By Virginia Allen, The Daily Signal | March 26, 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center on Wednesday and met with the Central American nation’s president, Nayib Bukele, to discuss deportation flights and removals of criminal illegal aliens from the U.S.
Noem’s visit follows the recent deportation of about 250 criminal illegal aliens from the U.S. to the detention facility in El Salvador. According to the Trump administration, the deported illegal aliens are members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.
“If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face,” Noem said while standing in front of a prison cell holding deported illegal aliens.
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“First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted,” the DHS secretary said. “But know that this facility is one of the tools in our tool kit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people.”
William H. Duncan, U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, greeted Noem on the tarmac upon her arrival in San Salvador before she traveled to the detention facility.
Soldiers lined the streets along Noem’s route from the airport to the prison, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Michelle Hackman, the pool reporter covering Noem’s trip.
Salvadoran Minister of Justice and Public Security Gustavo Villatoro escorted Noem through the detention facility that “felt newly built and not at all worn down,” according to Hackman, who also noted that most of the facility was not air-conditioned.
Inside the prison’s barracks where the illegal immigrant deportees are being held, the security minister directed Noem’s attention to a prisoner with a tattoo that is reportedly a signature of Tren de Aragua.
Noem’s trip comes amid legal challenges over the Trump administration’s deportation flights of criminal illegal aliens.
El Salvador’s president reached a $6 million deal with the Trump administration to take the criminals off the hands of the U.S., but the deportation flights have hit a roadblock in the courts.
The Trump administration used the authority of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to carry out initial deportations to El Salvador, but federal Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., an appointee of President Barack Obama, blocked the use of the act for deportations of illegal aliens.
The Trump administration has appealed the judge’s order, but on Wednesday, a federal appeals court refused to lift the judge’s stay. The Trump administration may now turn to the Supreme Court to request emergency relief in order to resume the deportation flights to El Salvador.
In addition to her fact-finding visit to El Salvador, Noem will travel to Colombia on Thursday to meet with President Gustavo Petro and the Colombian National Police. On Friday, Noem will make a final stop in Mexico to meet with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
This story was updated after publication to include comments from Noem.
Virginia Allen is a senior news producer for The Daily Signal and host of "The Daily Signal Podcast" and "Problematic Women."
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