MS-13: A Dangerous Gang

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For many Americans MaraSalvatrucha or commonly known on the streets as (MS-13) is an unfamiliar gang but to (FBI) Federal Bureau Investigation,(ATF) Alcohol, Tabaco, Firearms and Explosives, and local law enforcement agencies,MS-13 is an uprising globalized menace of ruthless criminals who are growing in numbers exponentially. These plagues of criminals are not only making their mark here in the United States but they are deeply rooted in their country of origin, El Salvador and all throughout Central America with the exception of Costa Rica and Panama. From drug and human trafficking across the border, to murders, kidnappings, prostitution rings and drug distribution within the United States and other countries, MS-13 is a force to be reckoned with and is as problematic as terrorism for law enforcement. MS-13’s roots can be traced to the Salvadorian Civil War of the 1980’s (as cited in Franco, C., 2007). During the 1980’s El Salvador faced many political and military issues between the elected government and anyone that supported social and economic reform. Fearing for their lives, many Salvadorian youth whom had collaborated with the rebel forces against the government, and were familiar with guns and military training, fled north to neighboring countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, United States, and some areas in Canada. Here in the United States the majority of the refugees landed in Los Angeles as illegal immigrants finding it difficult to adjust to the social and political environment of the City. With minimum education, illegal alien status and no work experience, many of these youth turned to gangs and criminal activity in order to survive but quickly found out that the gang hierarchy had already been esta... ... middle of paper ... ...ey can control this out of control epidemic, to keep our streets and borders safe. Works Cited Bruneau,C.,(2005, May).The Maras and national security in Central America. Strategic insights (5). Retrieved from http://www.nps.edu/academics/centers/publications/onlinejournal/2005/may/bruneaumay05.html Campo-Romano, A.,(2005, March). The most dangerous gang in america,Newsweek,145, Retrieved from http://www1.american.edu/councils/americas/Documents/GangViolence/Newsweek%20CA%20Gang%20Article.doc. Cruz,M.,(2009, May). Global gangs in El Salvador:Maras and the politics of violence, Retrieved from http://graduateinstitute.ch/weddav/site/ccdp/shared/5039/cruz-global-gangs-in-El-Salvador.pdf Franco, C., (2007, May). The MS-13 and 18th street gangs:Emerging transnational gang threats, Retrieved from http://opencrs.com/document/RL34233/2007-11-02/download/1006/.

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