US Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, stated that they are determined for individuals sent to El Salvador Prison on allegations of being gang members to stay there for the rest of their lives.

Under the administration of President Donald Trump in the US, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem mentioned that individuals sent to El Salvador Prison for being members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs should remain there “for life.” The Trump administration had detained individuals on the basis of being members of MS-13 based in El Salvador and Tren de Aragua based in Venezuela, considered as Latin America’s most dangerous criminal organizations, and sent them to El Salvador Prison. The said prison is also known as “hell on earth.” “WE ARE DETERMINED FOR THEM TO STAY THERE” According to Axios, US Secretary of Homeland Security Noem made statements regarding individuals sent to El Salvador after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) event in Washington.

Noem expressed that they are determined for these individuals sent due to gang membership to stay there, stating, “They should stay there for life.” Noem also highlighted that this assessment is based on intelligence work by ICE and the Department of State. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SENT “GANG MEMBERS” TO EL SALVADOR The US administration had added MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs to the list of “foreign terrorist organizations.” President Trump had enacted the Foreign Enemies Act, a power previously only used during wartime, to expedite deportation of individuals linked to “foreign terrorist organizations” within the context of combatting irregular immigration. The Washington administration had sent individuals detained on the grounds of being members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua to El Salvador Prison. The Foreign Enemies Act from 1798 activated by Trump grants extraordinary powers to target and deport undocumented immigrants.