Congresswoman Ramirez Demands Committee on Homeland Security Oversight Visit to CECOT

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement after sending a letter to the Committee on Homeland Security demanding an oversight visit to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in Tecoluca, El Salvador: 

“Congress’ role is oversight. And when the Executive Branch decides to use a notorious, off-shore prison with a history of gross human rights violations as their staging location for mass deportations without due process and in violation of international law, Congress must act. That is why, today I requested that the Committee on Homeland Security conduct an official oversight visit to CECOT. 

President Trump and Secretary Noem deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, Andry Hernandez Romero, Jerce Reyes Barrios and hundreds of others to CECOT with no due process, resulting in “administrative errors.” Their actions are illegal, unconstitutional and inhumane. In the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia we already know that the Supreme Court unanimously agrees that Trump and Noem must be held accountable and bring Kilmar home! If it takes Trump flying Air Force One to El Salvdaor to pick him up, so be it. 

In the meantime, not one more US dollar should go to El Salvador to imprison people in their notorious hall of human rights abuses, no further deportation flights should be arranged, and the threats of locking up “homegrown” criminals must STOP. 

Congress must be a check on the out-of-control, lawless Trump Administration. A Congressional delegation needs to urgently go to CECOT to check on the health and well-being of all political prisoners that have been sent to this heinous place, and Kristi Noem must resign.”