Dozens of tattooed, shaven-headed criminals were inspected by Kristi Noem, Donald Trump’s homeland security chief, during a visit to the El-Salvadorian mega-prison.

Ms Noem visited the prison housing hundreds of Venezuelans recently deported from America on Wednesday.

Standing in front of the inmates who were tightly packed into their cells and stripped to the waist, Ms Noem touted the controversial prison as “one of the tools in our toolkit” as the White House tries to drive down immigration.

Ms Noem marked a striking contrast to the inmates behind her, with her long hair tucked under a navy Department of Homeland Security cap and a gold watch on her wrist.

The watch appeared to be a gold Rolex Daytona worth tens of thousands of dollars.

“Do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted,” she said during a photo-call at the maximum security Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

“Know that this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people.”