DHS Sec. Kristi Noem Asked Point Blank If TdA Members Deported To El Salvador Prison Are There ‘Indefinitely'?

 

Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem Confirms TdA Members Deported to El Salvador Prison Will Remain ‘Indefinitely’

San Salvador, El Salvador – At a press briefing on Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem addressed questions regarding the fate of TdA gang members deported from the United States to El Salvador.

Key Takeaways from Noem’s Statement

• El Salvador will continue incarcerating deported TdA members.

• The U.S. is working on increasing deportation flights throughout 2024 and 2025.

• President Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele are aligned in treating TdA as a terrorist organization, similar to MS-13.

• COT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo), El Salvador’s high-security mega-prison, will be used for housing these gang members indefinitely.

U.S.-El Salvador Cooperation on Gang Crackdown

Noem emphasized that 51 deportation flights had already landed in El Salvador this year, with another arriving on Wednesday. The Trump administration is committed to removing criminals and illegal aliens from the U.S. and ensuring they are contained in El Salvador.

"We will continue these deportation flights throughout President Trump's term until we get these criminals and illegal aliens out of the United States," Noem stated.

COT: The Prison Built for ‘Terrorists’

Noem highlighted that El Salvador’s mega-prison, which holds up to 40,000 gang members, is uniquely designated for terrorists. She noted that President Bukele recognizes the national security threat posed by TdA—a stance fully backed by President Trump.

“El Salvador recognizes that these gang members are part of a terrorist organization, which is exactly how President Trump is approaching MS-13 and TdA,” Noem added.

What’s Next?

The U.S. and El Salvador are expected to strengthen their partnership, ensuring that TdA members remain imprisoned indefinitely and preventing them from returning to the U.S..

This hardline approach aligns with Trump’s ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration and gang violence, reinforcing his administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward criminal organizations.

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FAQs: TdA Members Deported to El Salvador Prison

1. What did DHS Secretary Kristi Noem say about the deported TdA members?

Kristi Noem confirmed that TdA gang members deported to El Salvador will remain incarcerated indefinitely in COT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo), the country’s high-security prison for terrorists.

2. Will these gang members be sent back to their home countries, such as Venezuela?

Noem stated that El Salvador plans to keep them in prison and has no immediate plans to transfer them elsewhere. The Trump administration is committed to keeping them out of the U.S. permanently.

3. How many TdA members have been deported to El Salvador so far?

As of 2024, the U.S. has sent 51 deportation flights to El Salvador, with more scheduled throughout 2025.

4. Why is El Salvador’s COT prison being used for TdA members?

COT is a specialized prison designed exclusively for terrorists and gang members. President Nayib Bukele and President Trump have both labeled TdA and MS-13 as terrorist organizations, making COT the ideal facility for these criminals.

5. What is the U.S. government’s stance on TdA?

President Trump’s administration considers TdA a violent criminal organization and supports strict deportation policies to keep them out of the U.S. permanently.

6. Will the U.S. continue deporting gang members to El Salvador?

Yes. Noem emphasized that deportation flights will continue throughout Trump's presidency to ensure these criminals do not return to the U.S.

7. What role does El Salvador’s government play in this agreement?

El Salvador has welcomed these deportations and is cooperating with the U.S. to keep gang members incarcerated. President Bukele’s tough-on-crime approach aligns with Trump’s policies.

8. How does this impact U.S. national security?

By ensuring that TdA members remain in El Salvador, the U.S. is reducing gang violence, illegal immigration, and national security threats.

9. What are the next steps for this policy?

The Trump administration plans to increase deportation flights and expand cooperation with El Salvador to keep criminal organizations out of the U.S.

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