Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday, making a bold move in the ongoing battle against gang violence that is threatening both the United States and Latin America. Noem, who has become known for her tough stance on immigration and crime, toured the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a prison known for its brutal conditions designed to deter gang activity. She viewed the incarcerated gang members, many of whom had been deported by the Trump administration, and is expected to ask El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to make room for even more criminals being sent south from the U.S.
The visit comes at a crucial time in the U.S.-El Salvador relationship, particularly in the context of the Trump administration’s hardline approach to gang violence. Just weeks ago, under Trump’s direction, 250 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs were deported to CECOT. They joined 15,000 other inmates already held in this overcrowded facility, which is infamous for its dehumanizing conditions. These conditions are intended to serve as the ultimate deterrent to gang members by isolating them and breaking their spirits.
During her tour, Noem was shown rows of tattooed gang members standing silently in their cramped cells. The cells, which hold up to 70 inmates, are equipped with metal bunks stacked four high—no mattresses, no sheets, just cold, hard metal. Prisoners spend 23.5 hours a day locked in these cells with only a communal basin for drinking water and another for bathing. Meals consist of nothing more than beans and pasta. The brutality is part of El Salvador’s years-long battle against the gang violence that has plagued the country for decades. As Noem was led through the prison, she saw firsthand the kind of gang members who were being sent from the U.S.—some of whom are facing life sentences for horrific crimes like homicide and terrorism.
Gustavo Villatoro, El Salvador’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, gave Noem a tour of the facility and emphasized the dire need for tough measures. “No one expects that these people can go back to society and behave,” Villatoro said, underscoring the impossibility of rehabilitating such hardened criminals.
For Noem, this trip represents a critical moment in the fight against the spread of organized crime into the U.S. She has long been an advocate for deporting dangerous criminals to countries like El Salvador, where they can be kept out of American communities. She is expected to discuss with President Bukele the possibility of increasing the number of U.S. deportees sent to CECOT, ensuring that gang members stay locked up and off American streets.
While her visit to El Salvador may be seen as a necessary step in the fight against transnational crime, it also flies in the face of efforts back in the U.S. to block the deportation of these dangerous criminals. The deportations were authorized by President Trump through the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime measure that allows the president to expel non-citizens without due process. The act has been used rarely in history but was invoked by Trump in January after he declared Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization.
While the deportations were initially moving forward, a federal judge blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act, citing due process concerns. Trump, however, has vowed to fight the decision, determined to continue the tough stance he set in motion.
Noem’s trip to El Salvador is part of a broader tour of Latin America to combat organized crime. After El Salvador, Noem will travel to Colombia and Mexico, where she plans to meet with the leaders of those nations to discuss joint efforts in preventing gangs and criminals from crossing into the U.S. “We are in several other countries around the world with a message right now that’s saying if you are thinking of coming to America illegally, don’t do it. You are not welcome,” Noem stated ahead of her trip.
The controversial CECOT prison is located just 47 miles south of San Salvador, the capital city, and was opened in 2023 as part of President Bukele’s crackdown on gang violence. El Salvador’s government has been in a constant battle to curb gang influence, and CECOT represents their commitment to containing the country’s violent gang problem.
While critics may argue that such extreme measures are inhumane, the reality is that the inmates housed in CECOT are some of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Many of them, like the man Noem was shown during her tour who is serving 465 years for homicide and terrorism, are considered psychopaths with no hope of rehabilitation. This is not just a fight for El Salvador—it is a fight for the safety of American citizens as well.
Noem’s visit, and the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and El Salvador, highlight the seriousness of the threat posed by gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, which have expanded their reach into the U.S. With gang violence spilling over into American cities and communities, it is crucial that the U.S. continue to work with Latin American nations like El Salvador to stem the tide of violence and secure the safety of both countries.
As President Trump continues to fight for his deportation policies, Noem’s tour serves as a reminder that there are real-world consequences to the unchecked spread of gang violence—and the U.S. must be resolute in its efforts to combat it.
