Kristi Noem shares video with migrants detained in El Salvador prison, Internet slams 'desperate stunt'

TECOLUCA, EL SALVADOR: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stunned the Internet on Wednesday, March 26, by uploading a video on social media from her visit to the maximum security prison in El Salvador to send a message to the undocumented immigrants in the United States, reported Raw Story.

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador has been utilized by the administration of President Donald Trump to hold Venezuelan immigrants who have been removed from the US without a judicial hearing. They are accused of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang. 

According to the Daily Beast, attorneys for and family members of some of the detained men have disputed the allegation, claiming that they were detained because of their tattoos, which the authorities falsely deemed gang-related.

Kristi Noem's message for illegal immigrants

In the clip that Kristi Noem uploaded on X (formerly Twitter), she is seen standing in front of a cell packed with prisoners, announcing that she is visiting CECOT, where the "terrorists" from the US are being incarcerated for the "violence that they've perpetuated in our communities."

"I also want everybody to know that if you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences that you could face," she continued 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 added.

Noem also thanked El Salvador and its President Nayib Bukele for partnering with the US to house the detainees.

An agreement was reportedly reached in February between the two countries, whereby the US is to pay the Central American nation $6 million per year to use their facility.

Noem was accompanied by the Salvadoran minister of justice during her tour.

"I toured the CECOT, El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center. President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison," she wrote in the caption of the video

Internet slams Kristi Noem for her 'desperate stunt' 

Users on the internet were aghast by Kristi Noem's video and took to X to express their views on the same. Many slammed the Secretary of Homeland Security.

"This is the sickest s**t i have ever seen in my life oh my god," wrote MSNBC analyst Tim Miller.

"Kristi Noem’s Desperate Stunt: Exploiting Foreign Prisoners for Political Fearmongering," observed Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko.

"Those are human f**king beings behind you, not f**king props!!!!!! That looks like a concentration camp. This is utterly reprehensible. Shame on you," one person wrote.

"Performative vulgarity," expressed another.

"This is what evil looks like," noted one individual.

"Visiting a concentration camp and posing with the inmates," added another.

"She knows of no decency," one netizen said.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.