WASHINGTON — US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has released a social media video filmed inside a controversial mega-prison in El Salvador, thanking the country and its president for "bringing our terrorists here and incarcerating them".

Secretary Noem was in the country to tour the facility, where US officials recently sent 238 Venezuelans.

In a cell behind her as she spoke were dozens of bare-chested and tattooed Salvadorean members from the MS-13 and the 18th Street gangs.

The trip suggests President Trump does not intend to back down from his immigration policy in the face of an injunction, upheld by an appeals court, on removing the Venezuelans from US soil under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

Secretary Noem described the prison as "one of the tools in our toolbox" and warned people that "if you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face".

As part of her visit, she is due to meet Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele, an ally of US President Donald Trump, who had the Terrorism Confinement Centre (Cecot) facility built as part of his own crackdown on gang crime in El Salvador. — BBC