Mara Salvatrucha, also known as "MS-13", is an international gang of violent criminals that originated in Los Angeles, California in the early 1980s. The gang was comprised of Salvadorian immigrants who immigrated to the United States after the Central American civil wars that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Originally the gang's main purpose was to maintain a protective environment for Salvadorian Immigrants from older, more structured gangs in the area. These other gangs were mainly composed of African Americans and Mexicans, so there was no possibility of becoming a member. Due to high deportation rates of MS-13 members during the 1980s and 1990s, influence and size of the organization in Central America has grown exponentially. …show more content…
Although there have been a few cases of Mexicans joining their ranks as well. A large portion of MS-13 members cover themselves in tattoos representing MS-13 and their achievements within the gang. Common tattoos include the "Devil Horns", "MS", "Salvatrucha", the name of their smaller clique within the gang. Minors are usually the suspects arrested for the killings attributed to MS-13. Many school districts were reluctant to admit minors with no parents into school when they initially arrived from Central America. This just results in the child being left at home to be vulnerable to MS-13 recruitment. Due to the gang's large increase in size and steady spread of influence, people thought MS-13 was pro-actively recruiting their members. This turned out to be false, and due to the overwhelming vulnerability felt by community members and the news attention garnered by the gang there has never been a lack of new recruits. If the gang ever wishes to induct a new member, they will offer easy access to drugs and alcohol. The gang will also accelerate the time line for a member's trial period or even skip requirements to allow easier entry. But these are usually the …show more content…
It's up to them if they'd like to join. Once the recruit informs the gang they'd like to join, they will then be put on a trial period and will conduct lookout services, provide intelligence, and other basic tasks for the gang. During this time, they'll be called a "paro" or "bandera". The second step involves becoming promoted to a "chequeo". The recruits will still be in the process of becoming a member, but they will be required to perform increasingly criminal tasks. Some recruits can spend years as "Chequeos", depending on the area they're in. Those who have been "Chequeos" longer than others are given respect by new recruits for their time commitment. In any case, at this point the Chequeo is seen as being associated with the gang. Formal entry into MS-13 relies on passing a final exam, which can vary depending on where you are. In El Salvador, a chequeo must commit a murder for MS-13. In America, he'd only become a full member after attacking a rival gang member. The gang will view a member differently depending on where they went through their initiation. For example, those who take their exam in El Salvador are viewed as more hardened than
In the documentary of “The World’s Most Dangerous Gang” it reveals how it’s group gets followers. Children can be as young as eight and be recruited into MS 13. The name MS 13 is Mara Salvatrucha 13. Mara is the Spanish word for “group” or “clique”. Salvatrucha stands for “street smart”. The number 13 was chosen out of respect and because “M” is the thirteenth letter of the alphabet. When children or adults are adopted to this group they have to first go through the initiation process. This ritual consists of being beat up by members of MS 13 for thirty seconds.
The MS13 is a perfect example of a counterculture. They are a world within themselves. The gang is very organized and structured; there is hierarchy with the gang. There is a significant amount of money flow within the gang. A few ways the gang obtains money is by drug dealing, illegal weapons, vendors pay the gang to work in their territories and for their protection, and drug dealers also pay the gang to earn the right to sell drugs in their territories. There are laws and rules that a gang member must abide by. One very strict rule for a gang member is silence. If a gang member becomes informant and it is found out that they are, it will more than likely result in death for the informant. The breaking of laws and rules are punishable, even by death. They have a law system and law enforcement of their own. Check courting is a punishment served by the gang to gang members who break the laws of the gang. There are initiations one must endure to become a member of the gang. Jumping in is one of the initiations, a brutal thirteen second beating by multiple people at the same time. (World’s Most Dangerous Gang) There is a communication system within the gang. They use stacking to communicate, tattoos, graffiti, and an overall dialect that is unique to the gang. This counterculture exists internationally inside and outside of prison walls. Within the gang there are individual cliques, but when threatened they will come together and fight alongside one another. It is instilled in a gang member to kill to maintain territory and to acquire new territories. T...
Many join the "gang" to feel apart of something because they feel that they do not belong anywhere else. Then others join because they like looking "different"." White Supremacy on the Rise. by Mike Harpin) You can spot a Skinhead by their style.
The Bandidos motorcycle gang has had a decades-long stranglehold on supremacy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This gang has becoming an increased threat not only to Albuquerque, but the nation. Here in the five years I have lived here, there have been many issues with the Bandidos. Shootouts have occurred because other motorcycle gangs like the Vagos are threatening their turf. One member got shot like two years ago and the city was chaos because of threats and biker gangs came from all over for revenge. Could not really find out how one can be recruited into the Bandidos. Stealing bikes is a very well-known criminal activity they commit. Transporting and distribution of illicit drugs is primary source of income (Proctor, 2013). They do a majority
Morch, S., & Andersen, H. (2012). Becoming a Gang Member: Youth Life and Gang Youth. Online Submission
Introduction The exponential growth of gangs in the Northern Triangle countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras) has led to an epidemic of violence across the region. The two largest and most formidable gangs in the Northern Triangle, the Mara Salvatrucha-13 (MS-13) and the Barrio 18, wage battles against one another to control territory and defend against incursions. In 2011, Honduras led the world in homicides, with 91.6 per 100,000 people; rates were also alarmingly high in El Salvador and Guatemala, at 69.1 and 38.5 per 100,000 people, respectively. In El Salvador, a country with a population of only 6.2 million people, 4,354 were the victims of homicide in 2011 alone, with the Catholic Church estimating that more than 1,300 of these deaths were the direct result of gang violence. To counteract the growth of the gang phenomenon, during the 2000s the Northern Triangle countries favored a mano dura (iron fist) approach to dealing with the increasing belligerence of gangs.
Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, is a well-known transnational criminal organization (TCO) originating from El Salvador. They are specifically targeted for its involvement in transnational criminal activities including drug trafficking, kidnapping, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and many more. It is certain that there are more transnational gangs other than MS-13, but the reality of these gangs impact society, and their neighborhoods, more than one can imagine. There are underlying realities “that make it difficult to generalize [the gangs].” The one of many underlying realities is that each neighborhood level gang group of transnational gangs, particularly MS-13, has a “great deal of autonomy in the relationship it maintains with other organizations.” The second reality factor is that gangs, especially MS-13 in El Salvador are in a state of turmoil. The third reality factor is that the gangs in Central America differ from each other in significant ways. Although most gangs are involved in human smuggling and drug retail, MS-13 has a solidified relationship with “transportista networks and are reaching out to Mexican TCOs.” These realities can be analyzed with Taussig’s notions and theoretical framework of space of death.
Expanding, dominating, and earning respect are primary goals for various of gangs. Considering this, none of these goals can be accomplished without any criminal gang activity occurring. When a criminal organization starts building up a foundation their objective is first to increase their numbers and their territory. According to United gangs, for the most part of the 90’s the Fresno Bulldogs recruited in large groups of members, the gang slowly moved from their hometown and colonized the neighboring areas. Having a strong foundation built lead to the Fresno Bulldogs needing to find a main source of revenue to bring money into the organization. The result of the main source to generate income was illegal trafficking of drugs and other narcotics. According to United gangs, “As the gang kept expanding, street thugs were hired to deal the
There are few known active members of street gangs attending district schools. The gang activity that is seen is that of ‘want-to-be’ gang members who are influenced by family members who are involved in street gang activity. Other ‘want-to-be’ members are often swayed by popular culture. Primarily, school administrators and district officials encounter smaller groups of students, anywhere from 3 to 10 students,from elementary to senior high, who band together and give the group a name. The group serves as a support system for members. These groups tend to be fluid and can disband as quickly as they formed. Most of these groups are benign and caused few difficulties. On occasion there have been groups that have caused greater disruption including violence, intimidation, and drug use. This has led to suspension and student transfer. When a student is identified as a street gang member or has shown signs of street gang influence the first intervention the district takes is to inform the parents of the individual, awareness is
The kids became gang members for many reasons. Some needed to find what their place was in the world, and they needed to know who they were as human beings. Joining the gang gave them a feeling of being involved in something and made them feel better about themselves. They felt that as a gang member they received the attention, emotional support, and understanding that they couldn’t get from their actual family members at home.
The three cousins’ names were Cruz, whom was the artist, Paco, who went to the marinas and then became a cop after the gang life, and Miklo, whom gained control and stayed in the gang life when he went to jail. Initiation into the gang was pretty much how most gangs do it. The guy that wanted to be in the gang had to stand up to one of their enemy gang members. After they do that crime, the rest of the Rattos locos gang members come together and do a “baptism” for the new member. They take the side of the new member’s hand, closest to the thumb, and puts a symbol on the hand. Also, they put salt on the cut making it seem like a baptism. The member that was getting initiated into the gang at the beginning of the movie was Miklo. Cruz and Paco would call Miklo milkweed, white boy, and Chicano because he was half caucasian, half mexican. Then after the “baptism”, the gang members would throw a party. This gang does not like any other gangs that are in their heritage. Rattos Locos usually have graffiti everywhere to tell where their territory
They were gangsters that caused problems for the community. These gangsters would go up to kids and try and jump them into their gang. For them, the more members they had, the more “territory they had.” One problem that major cities around the world have is gangs. Most of these gangs are made up of juvenile delinquents looking for trouble.
When they are expanding their operations to different cities. The Jurisdictions can Identify the Latin king member by the symbols, they are wearing or having tattoo’s that has the symbol in it. For example like: LION, LAK, A Son, Diamond, LKN, ALCN, ALKN, Cross, A Figure of a King Head that is known as a master, a five point crown. All of these symbols are consistent with the folk Nation Gangs.
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.
Our team presentation focused on three Latino gangs, MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), the Mexican Mafia and the Los Surenos gang. My part of the presentation was to provide information on the type of crime these three gangs are known to commit. The crimes committed by the MS-13 gang are varied, violent, and take place all over the country. The FBI even put together a task force called the MS-13 National Gang Task Force in December of 2004 to try to put a stop to this gang’s activities. (www.fbi.gov). Los Surenos or Sur-13, originally based in Los Angeles, has also branched out from turf wars with rival gangs to “for profit”, violent crimes across the country. The Mexican Mafia has a similar story to tell as well in regards to gang crimes, which again range from respect crimes, and retaliatory violence to crimes for profit.