Prior to the January 18, 2026 broadcast of 60 Minutes featuring Sharyn Alfonsi’s report on CECOT, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House provided statements defending the deportation of nearly 300 gang members, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that these individuals are dangerous terrorists and criticized media portrayal of them as “non-criminals.” The White House reiterated President Trump’s commitment to removing illegal aliens who threaten American safety, urging media focus on victims of such crimes. Both agencies maintained that U.S. jurisdiction does not extend to the treatment of deported individuals in El Salvador.
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