Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ignited a firestorm of criticism Wednesday after releasing a video from a notorious maximum-security prison in El Salvador, where she issued a stark warning to undocumented immigrants and declared the facility a tool in the United States’ immigration enforcement strategy.
The video, posted to Noem’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, featured the secretary standing inside the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, a prison infamous for its harsh conditions and overcrowding. Noem toured the facility alongside El Salvador’s minister of justice.
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“I also want everybody to know that if you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences that you could face,” Noem said in the video. “First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted. 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.”
She went on to state that the prison is currently “accepting the United States’ terrorists for the violence that they’ve perpetuated in our communities.” Under the Trump administration, migrants accused of gang affiliations—specifically with the Venezuelan crime syndicate Tren de Aragua—were deported to El Salvador, in some cases defying judicial orders.
Reports indicate that more than 260 individuals were sent to CECOT, including 137 expelled under the Alien Enemies Act. The facility, capable of holding up to 40,000 inmates, has faced international scrutiny for alleged human rights violations. Detainees are housed in cramped, windowless cells with little to no outdoor access.
Noem’s video quickly sparked backlash online, with critics calling the move a grotesque political stunt. Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko labeled it “Kristi Noem’s Desperate Stunt: Exploiting Foreign Prisoners for Political Fearmongering.” Tim Miller, MSNBC analyst and host of The Bulwark Podcast, posted, “This is the sickest s— I have ever seen in my life oh my god.”
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Jeff Timmer, senior advisor to The Lincoln Project, added sarcastically, “I wonder if they had to talk her out of shooting a puppy in the face to show the prisoners who’s boss.”
Political commentator JoJoFromJerz condemned the spectacle bluntly: “Those are human f—ing beings behind you, not f—ing props!!!!!! That looks like a concentration camp. This is utterly reprehensible. Shame on you.” As the controversy builds, critics argue that Noem’s message crossed ethical boundaries and dangerously blurred lines between law enforcement and inhumane spectacle.
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