Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, has drawn considerable attention for her choice of accessories during a recent visit to one of the world’s most notorious prisons, the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. On Wednesday, Ms. Noem wore a white long-sleeve top, gray slacks, a baseball cap featuring the Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo, and notably, a gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch worth approximately $50,000.
The context of her visit to the Cecot prison, where the Trump administration has been sending hundreds of Venezuelan deportees, generated its own share of controversy. Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied government efforts to resume these deportations, which had previously been blocked by a federal judge. In response, the Trump administration has sought intervention from the Supreme Court to reinstate the deportation process.
In stark contrast to the austere environment of Cecot, where prisoners are tightly packed into bunks, Noem's lavish timepiece became a focal point of criticism on social media, with many questioning whether it was appropriate to don such an expensive item in the midst of such grave circumstances. This prison, opened under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele in 2023, has been recognized for its role in the country's severe crackdown on gangs but has also faced censure from human rights advocates for its mass incarceration policies.
In a statement regarding the Rolex, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, mentioned that Noem acquired the watch with proceeds from her book sales, intending it as a family heirloom. However, McLaughlin did not address the criticism surrounding the decision to wear the watch during a visit to a high-security prison facility amid ongoing discussions about human rights and deportations.
