The Growing Gang Problem in America

Introduction-

Talk of the growing gang problem in America

Thesis: To control this issue immigration laws must be created and enforced and the glamorization of the life of a gangster in American media must be stopped.

Body

Pt. 1- Illegal immigration is a cause of the growth of MS-13

-due to this MS-13 has come to the U.S. seeking out power across the western hemisphere

-show that small immigration reform such as simple deportation has not resulted positively

-show a connection between the potential threat of smuggling terrorists and drug or human trafficking

- if these gaps of security are exposed for much longer we will face a serious gang crisis

Pt. 2- The glamorization of the life of a gangster in the media is a factor of growth for MS-13

-Dr. Carlie’s study on gang growth

- show the connection between the use of violence to shape a youth’s mind and will to perform the tasks of the gang

- evidence from FBI reports showing the dangerous connection between gangs in media and growth of gang members in hostile gangs

-result leads us to stricter rules on what is shown on television and in movies and sensitivity to topics of gang violence

Conclusion- Restate that if these problems are not dealt with accordingly then America faces a serious security crisis in the near future. Problems are fixable but will take work.` 1` ``

Jamie Hagan

Prof. House

English 1010

November 18, 2010

Gang violence in the United States of America is a prevalent issue that people concerned with our nation’s security are working to combat every day. Gang violence is growing in America as members from the El Salvadoran gang MS-13 immigrate into the U.S. To control this issue immigration laws must be created and enforced and the glamorization of the life of a gangster in American media must be stopped.

MS-13 began in the late 1980’s in the Los Angeles Pico Union neighborhood, which was primarily composed of Salvadoran migrants that had fled the civil war in their home country. All of the founding gang members were ex-soldiers from the Salvadoran army or guerilla soldiers from the rebel army (Burton). Many of these Salvadoran men felt pressured by both Mexican and African-Americans who saw these new Salvadoran immigrants as competition for the available jobs in the area (FBI, 2009). In response to this hostile pressure from both Mexican and black gangs, the ex-soldiers of the Salvadoran army bonded together and formed the basis for what would become one of the largest and most violent gangs in the world, named Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 (Burton, 2006). Originally, the early members of MS-13 used the gang’s power and personnel to protect its members and other Salvadoran families from the already present hostile Latino and black gangs in Los Angeles (FBI, 2009). In the early years, MS-13 membership was small and only composed of men who had served in battle in El Salvador and who were only of Salvadoran heritage (Burton). As time went on, the members of this new gang began to use violent methods to achieve their funding, and due to most of the gang members’ guerilla training from the war in El Salvador, the gang became known for its brutal violence and merciless actions in dealing with whomever they crossed (Burton). The training and fighting experiences from the civil war in El Salvador had hardened many of the early gang members (FBI, 2009).

MS-13’s reputation for violence has helped the gang expand its control of certain cities by killing off or intimidating other gangs in the surrounding areas. MS-13, like the military, usually uses the tactic of small specialized group work, like mini-assassinations teams, or the tactic of overwhelming force, where an entire clique of MS-13 members may be involved in a hostile gang takeover of a certain territory (Burton). Another factor that contributes to their violent status is the fact that many of the founding gang members are ex-soldiers who have a sense of morality and ethics that has been dulled by the long civil war ravaging their country (FBI, 2009). This violent standing in the underworld criminal community has allowed MS-13 to form increasingly more stable relationships with other gangs in the US and around the world (FBI, 2009). The two factors of expansion of territory and connections with other gangs, which are direct results of the gang’s violent nature, represent a clear threat to the safety and security of the citizens and members of law enforcement.

MS-13 began its criminal activities like many early gangs often do. Founding gang members used extortion, robbery, drug dealing and prostitution to increase revenue for their members. After a few years however, members of different MS-13 “cliques” realized they could make a whole lot more money being involved in the highly illegal smuggling of drugs, firearms and eventually humans across the Mexican border and into the United States (DOJ). This specialty of smuggling represents a direct threat to the national security of the US. Not only can MS-13 members smuggle more of their own members into the US, there also exists channels for terrorists from the Middle East to infiltrate the United States through the border with Mexico using MS-13’s smuggling expertise (FBI, 2009).

With the increase in illegal immigrants from Mexico and other South American countries, and with many of these immigrants finding success and protection in joining a gang, there is an increase in gang membership for both La Eme and MS-13. In their alliance, MS-13 members act as more the worker ants under the direction of the highly organized and secretive Mexican Mafia (Mallory). MS-13 gang members, with their violent reputations and actions, often use their weapons of choice, knives and machetes, to intimidate rivals of La Eme (DOJ, 2008). Also, it is speculated by the FBI that La Eme uses the smuggling abilities of MS-13 more than any other criminal organization (Mallory). In return, La Eme is suspected of beginning to take the loosely connected cliques of MS-13 gang members and organize them into a sophisticated and coordinated criminal association. La Eme, which is modeled after the Sicilian Mafia hierarchical structure, is one of the most secretive and well-organized crime syndicates in America (FBI, 2009). If the Mexican Mafia restructured MS-13 into a similarly well-organized gang, the security of the United States will be hugely threatened. If MS-13 achieves a sense of order and solid connections between the numerous cliques, not only will US law enforcement agencies have to deal with the unprecedented violence of the gang, but coordinated attacks against civilians and law enforcement is a likely reality (Mallory).

Because the members of MS-13 are illegally in America, stricter immigration laws need to be created to better control who is coming into our country across our immediate borders. Not only do these laws have to be created but also they must be enforced strongly to send a clear message of zero tolerance for gang activites. The violence that MS-13 uses as an intimidation factor should be a great concern to the lawmakers and congressmen of our country to create these immigration restrictions. Most of the time the general public is unaware that this is an impending threat upon our nation’s security, and as a result the dangers that MS-13 pose to this country have remained in small groups of people working to combat this violent gang. Stricter immigration laws would not only raise awareness about this problem, but rather it would mean that as a united front the honest hardworking people of our nation would begin the fight at taking back our neighborhoods and streets. With stricter immigration laws, good people looking to better themselves in America would be able to come here while gangsters looking for a glorified lifestyle would remain away from our streets.

And because MS-13 knows that they must attract as many members as they can, not only does La Eme provide MS-13 members with well-paying illegal jobs, such as contract killing and extortion of other smaller Mexican gangs, but they also provide contacts for MS-13 to expand their business (FBI, 2009). With the recent onset of cartel wars on the Mexican-American border, many MS-13 members have been hired by the cartel leaders for protection, intimidation and murder (FBI, 2009). MS-13 has also gained valuable lands on the border, with which they can increase their already mammoth smuggling operation. The present and especially future connections made between the multiple MS-13 cliques and La Eme leaders need to be detached before the US has to enter a war against the imposing Mexican gangs on American soil.

MS-13’s expansion, some experts believe, can be partially blamed on the government of the United States. The first response of American law enforcement to the rising MS-13 threat was to deport the violent gang members back to El Salvador, especially since most of the gang members were illegal immigrants (FBI, 2009). It was primarily the California police departments that had the early dealings with MS-13, and they set up a deportation system that went from California to the Northern El Salvador jails (Burton). Little did the law enforcement officials know at the time that by sending these violent criminals back to El Salvador they would help MS-13 recruit members from these towns and villages. Many of the new recruits from El Salvador viewed these newly deported criminals as heroes who had escaped the harsh war that ravaged their country, made it to the United States, and been successful in achieving what they viewed to be the American dream.

Ironically, with the deportation of these MS-13 gang members continuing, the rise in popularity of being a MS-13 gang member grew until the gang spread out of El Salvador and into new Central American countries like Guatemala and Honduras (FBI, 2009). MS-13 has drastically grown inside the United States, but its membership has skyrocketed in the impoverished areas of Central America, with many of the new members joining at the early ages between 11-14 years old (Mallory). This age group of gang members poses a major problem for Central American police and military organizations having to face these young gang members and decide what to do with them. For example MS-13’s initiation is a curious one, where a potential recruit who wants to become a full-time gang member must undergo a vicious beating for 13 seconds by current members of the clique he wants to join (FBI, 2009). This physically brutal initiation for some is nothing compared to the life they might lead without the protection the gang provides (Gillig).

The American media has not helped those working against gang warfare in any way. Whether it is in movies or on television, the lifestyle of a gangster has been skewed in ways to make it look attractive to young teens. Dr. Mike Carlie a sociology professor at Missouri State University said in a study that, “Some youth will venture into illegal ways of earn an income. Movies and videos which show gang members enjoying the fruits of their illegal activities suggest, in some children 's minds, ways to reach the goal to which most American 's aspire”(Carlie). Dr. Carlie suggests that at a young age a child’s mind can be twisted to see images of horrible acts like murder or drug dealing and interpret these scenes as ways to success and power. For MS-13 this is also the case, because they recruit young teenagers between the ages of eleven to fourteen so heavily, they older members are able to distort the values of those below them.

Certain experts believe that the life that MS-13 members lead is glorified in the modern media, and whenever potential MS-13 members see the gang on television, they gain a sense of pride (Mallory). Another important recruiting factor for the gang is the financial freedom. MS-13 is a fiscally motivated group, and the amount of money a gang member can make is so much more than most legitimate businessmen (FBI, 2009). From drugs, murder, and smuggling, MS-13 members can make thousands of dollars in a few days (FBI, 2009). This provides a very strong motivation for potential recruits, especially since they live in a world of poverty (Gillig). As in many other gangs, recruits also come into the gang in order to achieve a sense of belonging and identity (Gillig). Most MS-13 gang members have numerous tattoos designating their membership in the gang. These tattoos also can show what rank they are, where they are from, and even who their victims are (FBI, 2009). Gaining respect and fear in the community is another reason why young males are interested in joining gangs, especially MS-13 (Mallory). Being part of a gang that has the reputation of being the worst and most violent is seen as an honor and privilege for many of these uneducated males (Mallory). All of these factors enter into the equation as to why young men see the gang lifestyle as the outlet they can belong to.

So if the factors of entering MS-13 do not differ so much from traditional gangs, why have their numbers been increasing? MS-13 is shown in the media, newspaper and all over the internet. It is a Hispanic gang that has American roots, and its members are dedicated to each other and making money (Mallory). In the United States, illegal immigration has been increasing for several years, and most of these new immigrants are Mexicans looking for a financially prosperous life (Lien). MS-13 provides these immigrants with a community they can belong to, work that they can do if they have the stomach for it, and a very fast source of income. Young Hispanic males in particular are apt to quickly join the gang in order to gain social acceptance (Gillig). The fact that MS-13 originated in America is an indication that this gang is not an “import” of the Central America culture, but rather was created by the American gang culture (Burton).

The patterns of growth by MS-13 include states in the Northeast and some central states. All of these states have current Hispanic gangs that are rivals with MS-13, and as seen in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, MS-13 targets areas in which their rival gangs work (FBI, 2009). The Latin Disciples in Chicago are primarily Puerto Rican and MS-13 could possibly want to expand their reach to their territories (FBI, 2009). Multiple arrests of MS-13 gang members have seen an increase in both cities of Chicago and Denver, both of which have also had an influx of Hispanic immigrants in recent years (FBI, 2009).

Currently in the United States there are between 8,000 to 10,000 hardened MS-13 gang members, with another 6,000 to 8,000 associates or potential gang recruits (FBI, 2009). Around the world, the number of MS-13 members has been estimated around 30,000-50,000 hardcore members with up to 100,000 potential members or associates (Mallory). These numbers are just expanding, and without direct action from international military and police forces, MS-13 will become a nightmare for both the United States and many other countries around the globe. So long as MS-13 membership continues to rise, their violence level stays constant, and the possibility of a better structured gang network seems likely, the United States is looking at one of the most ominous threats of the future.

However, there is hope in the voters of America with the option of stricter immigration policies. By making aware the congressmen of this growing problem in America, we can better hope to limit those who present a threat to our country from entering. At the same time we can work towards presenting the life of a gangster not as a glamorous one but rather a life of hardship and crime. By taking these crucial steps we can eliminate the problem at it’s source and cutoff members of MS-13 from being able to recruit anymore of the youth by revealing MS-13’s true basis of violence and crime as a means to power.

Works Cited

Burton, F. (2006, March 30). Mara salvatrucha: the new face of organized crime?. Retrieved from http://www.stratfor.com/mara_salvatrucha_new_face_organized_crime

DOJ. (2008, June 24). Twenty-six members of ms-13 indicted on racketeering, narcotics, extortion and firearms charges. Department of Justice Release, 1-3. DOJ. (2008, June 24). Twenty-six members of ms-13 indicted on racketeering, narcotics, extortion and firearms charges. Department of Justice Release, 1-3.

FBI. (2009, January 30). National gang threat assessment. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/publications/ngta2009.pdf

FBI. (Producer). (2009). United against ms-13 [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/multimedia/calee111309/calee111309.htm

FBI. (2009, November 10). United against ms-13. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov09/calee_111009.html

FBI. (2009, February 06). Fbi: gang report. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/page2/feb09/ngta_020609.html

Gillig, S. E. (2004). Teen gangs. Westport: Greenwood Pub Group.

Lien, I. (2008). Street gangs, migration and ethnicity. Portland: Willan Pub.

Mallory, S. (2009, October). MS-13 and its effects on the united states.
[pic]Interviewed at the University of Mississippi,
[pic]Oxford, MS. Sent to Jamie Hagan from Connor Hagan

Works Consulted

Hagan, Connor- Interview and research sent from him to help me with the topic of MS-13

www.fbi.gov- search MS-13

USA Today- Article “MS-13 Growing Dangerous FBI Says”

www.keystosaferschools.com/ms-13.htm

www.knowgangs.com/gang_resources/profiles/ms13

Cited: Burton, F. (2006, March 30). Mara salvatrucha: the new face of organized crime?. Retrieved from http://www.stratfor.com/mara_salvatrucha_new_face_organized_crime DOJ FBI. (2009, January 30). National gang threat assessment. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/publications/ngta2009.pdf FBI FBI. (2009, November 10). United against ms-13. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov09/calee_111009.html FBI Gillig, S. E. (2004). Teen gangs. Westport: Greenwood Pub Group. Lien, I. (2008). Street gangs, migration and ethnicity. Portland: Willan Pub. Mallory, S. (2009, October). MS-13 and its effects on the united states.