A recent group of alleged gang members has been deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, where they are now facing imprisonment at the country’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). This latest deportation includes individuals with criminal backgrounds ranging from child molestation and homicide to drug trafficking and kidnapping, according to the White House.
Seventeen members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs were flown to El Salvador on Sunday night, shackled and escorted by heavily armed soldiers. Upon arrival, the men were quickly transferred to the maximum-security prison, which is known for its brutal conditions. The deportees, many from El Salvador and Venezuela, are believed to be involved with violent Latin American gangs that have been active in the U.S.
Among the deported, six are linked to child molestation charges, one faces rape allegations, and others have been convicted of murder, kidnapping, and various drug-related offenses. These individuals had been detained during the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies aimed at removing criminal aliens from the country.
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The U.S. Department of Defense worked in partnership with the El Salvadoran government for this operation, which is part of an ongoing initiative to tackle foreign terrorist organizations. Officials praised the mission’s success in targeting these dangerous criminals. After their arrival, the gang members were immediately sent to CECOT, where they underwent harsh processing, including head shaving, before being locked in overcrowded cells.
CECOT, which opened two years ago, is part of El Salvador’s aggressive strategy to combat gang violence. Prisoners are housed in large, cramped cells with no mattresses or pillows, and they are allowed only 30 minutes of exercise daily. Most detainees, including the new arrivals, are expected to remain confined indefinitely, with little or no contact with the outside world.
This deportation comes after an earlier batch of gang members was sent to the same facility earlier in March, marking the first use of the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act. Although a federal judge recently blocked the act’s usage, the 17 individuals deported this week were sent based on previous deportation orders.
The Trump administration has made it clear that legal challenges won’t deter its commitment to expelling suspected gang members. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited CECOT during a recent tour of Latin America, where she underscored the U.S. government’s determination to take a hard stance on crime and its impact on American communities.
Noem emphasized the importance of transparency, saying it was crucial for Americans to see the consequences facing individuals involved in violent crimes against their citizens. During her visit, she also spoke with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who expressed a strong commitment to housing more deported criminals, stating that his country would take “the worst of the worst.”
This ongoing effort reflects the broader U.S. strategy to curb gang violence and protect citizens by ensuring that convicted criminals face severe consequences, both in the U.S. and abroad.
