Noem tours Salvador prison, warns against illegal immigration

Kristi Noem, the US Homeland Security Chief, recently visited the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador, where hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported from the US are held. During her visit, she issued a stern warning against illegal immigration, stating, 'Do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted,' while addressing inmates, many of whom are alleged gang members. The deportations, which involved invoking wartime legislation, have sparked controversy due to accusations of human rights abuses and the questionable labeling of migrants as gang members. Activists argue that many deported individuals have no ties to criminal organizations, a claim supported by some relatives and legal representatives. Noem's visit marks the beginning of a regional tour aimed at discussing organized crime with leaders in Colombia and Mexico, emphasizing the US's commitment to combating illegal immigration. The situation has prompted legal challenges in El Salvador, with lawyers seeking to justify the continued detention of the deportees.