Photos Show Kristi Noem's Visit Through Notorious El Salvador Prison
NewsweekMAR 23
DHS Chief Tours El Salvador Prison Housing Deported Migrants
Above: US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025. Image copyright: Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump is fulfilling his promise to remove the "worst of the worst" gang members from the US. These offenders posed serious threats to American communities before their deportations. CECOT serves as a necessary deterrent for illegal immigration while providing appropriate consequences for criminal behavior.
Democratic narrative
It's terrible to celebrate these unconstitutional deportations, especially when many people close to the inmates argue they've been wrongly identified as criminals. Some were arrested on questionable evidence of gang affiliation, including tattoos. The inhumane prison conditions make this situation worse and reflect poorly on the US.