The Rapid Evolution of the MS 13 in El Salvador and Honduras from Gang to Tier-one Threat to Central America and U.S. Security Interests

The Rapid Evolution of the MS 13 in El Salvador and Honduras from Gang to Tier-one Threat to Central America and U.S. Security Interests

Author: Douglas Farah

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9780160947933

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Book Synopsis The Rapid Evolution of the MS 13 in El Salvador and Honduras from Gang to Tier-one Threat to Central America and U.S. Security Interests by : Douglas Farah

Download or read book The Rapid Evolution of the MS 13 in El Salvador and Honduras from Gang to Tier-one Threat to Central America and U.S. Security Interests written by Douglas Farah and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Armed Conflict Survey 2022

Armed Conflict Survey 2022

Author: The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-11-18

Total Pages: 549

ISBN-13: 1000861600

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The Armed Conflict Survey 2022 provides an exhaustive review of the political, military and humanitarian dimensions of 33 active armed conflicts globally in the period from 1 March 2021 to 30 April 2022. The review is complemented by a strategic analysis of national, regional and global drivers and conflict outlooks, providing unique insights into the geopolitical and geo-economic threads linking conflicts across the world, as well as into emerging flashpoints and political risks. This edition includes a special feature on climate security given the increasingly urgent need to understand the complex interlinkages between climate change, climate vulnerability and conflict amid accelerating global warming. Reflecting the growing importance of geopolitical factors in the current global conflict landscape, The Armed Conflict Survey 2022 features the IISS Armed Conflict Global Relevance Indicator, which compares the global relevance of armed conflicts in terms of their geopolitical impact, as well as their human impact and intensity. This edition also includes maps, infographics and key statistics, as well as the accompanying Chart of Armed Conflict.


Book Synopsis Armed Conflict Survey 2022 by : The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

Download or read book Armed Conflict Survey 2022 written by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-11-18 with total page 549 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Armed Conflict Survey 2022 provides an exhaustive review of the political, military and humanitarian dimensions of 33 active armed conflicts globally in the period from 1 March 2021 to 30 April 2022. The review is complemented by a strategic analysis of national, regional and global drivers and conflict outlooks, providing unique insights into the geopolitical and geo-economic threads linking conflicts across the world, as well as into emerging flashpoints and political risks. This edition includes a special feature on climate security given the increasingly urgent need to understand the complex interlinkages between climate change, climate vulnerability and conflict amid accelerating global warming. Reflecting the growing importance of geopolitical factors in the current global conflict landscape, The Armed Conflict Survey 2022 features the IISS Armed Conflict Global Relevance Indicator, which compares the global relevance of armed conflicts in terms of their geopolitical impact, as well as their human impact and intensity. This edition also includes maps, infographics and key statistics, as well as the accompanying Chart of Armed Conflict.


Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang

Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang

Author: United States. Government

Publisher:

Published: 2017-04-23

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 9781521134184

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This is an authoritative compilation of ten major documents and reports dealing with the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American gang and related criminal enterprises, including updated information on gang activity across America. Contents: Mara Salvatrucha Street Gang: An International Criminal Enterprise with Roots in El Salvador's Civil War * How is MS-13 a Threat to U.S. National Security? * Going Global on Gangs: New Partnership Targets MS-13 * The MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs: Emerging Transnational Gang Threats? * Gangs in Central America * Los Zetas and MS-13: Nontraditional Alliances * Escalating Violence in El Salvador * The Likelihood of Collaboration Between Central American Transnational Gangs and Terrorist Organizations * Defining Mara Salvatrucha's Texas Network * Central America and Mexico Gang Assessment Rising crime is threatening democratic development and slowing economic growth across Central America and Mexico. Gang activity has transcended the borders of Central America, Mexico, and the United States and evolved into a transnational concern that demands a coordinated, multi-national response to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated criminal gang networks. Whereas gang activity used to be territorially confined to local neighborhoods, globalization, sophisticated communications technologies, and travel patterns have facilitated the expansion of gang activity across neighborhoods, cities, and countries. The monikers of notorious gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) now appear in communities throughout the United States, Central America, and Mexico. Members of these international gangs move fluidly in and out of these neighboring countries. The U.S. Congress has recognized that some gangs in Latin America and the United States are international criminal organizations whose criminal activities in the Americas have damaging effects on national security by increasing domestic crime levels and facilitating drug trafficking. The federal response to the MS-13 and M-18 gang problem has largely involved the enforcement of criminal and immigration laws, including the deportation of alien gang members. More recently, federal efforts have focused on prosecuting gang members under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Deported alien gang members have established MS-13 and M-18 gang cliques in their home countries, and some experts suggest that U.S. deportation policies have effectively transported U.S.-styled gang culture to parts of Central America and Mexico. Moreover, evidence shows that deported alien MS-13 and M-18 gang members have established a "revolving door" migratory pattern of repeat illegal reentry into the United States, raising concerns that these "migratory" alien gang members may become involved in narco-trafficking, smuggling, and other criminal activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.


Book Synopsis Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang by : United States. Government

Download or read book Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang written by United States. Government and published by . This book was released on 2017-04-23 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an authoritative compilation of ten major documents and reports dealing with the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American gang and related criminal enterprises, including updated information on gang activity across America. Contents: Mara Salvatrucha Street Gang: An International Criminal Enterprise with Roots in El Salvador's Civil War * How is MS-13 a Threat to U.S. National Security? * Going Global on Gangs: New Partnership Targets MS-13 * The MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs: Emerging Transnational Gang Threats? * Gangs in Central America * Los Zetas and MS-13: Nontraditional Alliances * Escalating Violence in El Salvador * The Likelihood of Collaboration Between Central American Transnational Gangs and Terrorist Organizations * Defining Mara Salvatrucha's Texas Network * Central America and Mexico Gang Assessment Rising crime is threatening democratic development and slowing economic growth across Central America and Mexico. Gang activity has transcended the borders of Central America, Mexico, and the United States and evolved into a transnational concern that demands a coordinated, multi-national response to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated criminal gang networks. Whereas gang activity used to be territorially confined to local neighborhoods, globalization, sophisticated communications technologies, and travel patterns have facilitated the expansion of gang activity across neighborhoods, cities, and countries. The monikers of notorious gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) now appear in communities throughout the United States, Central America, and Mexico. Members of these international gangs move fluidly in and out of these neighboring countries. The U.S. Congress has recognized that some gangs in Latin America and the United States are international criminal organizations whose criminal activities in the Americas have damaging effects on national security by increasing domestic crime levels and facilitating drug trafficking. The federal response to the MS-13 and M-18 gang problem has largely involved the enforcement of criminal and immigration laws, including the deportation of alien gang members. More recently, federal efforts have focused on prosecuting gang members under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Deported alien gang members have established MS-13 and M-18 gang cliques in their home countries, and some experts suggest that U.S. deportation policies have effectively transported U.S.-styled gang culture to parts of Central America and Mexico. Moreover, evidence shows that deported alien MS-13 and M-18 gang members have established a "revolving door" migratory pattern of repeat illegal reentry into the United States, raising concerns that these "migratory" alien gang members may become involved in narco-trafficking, smuggling, and other criminal activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.


Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang

Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781370205554

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This is an authoritative compilation of ten major documents and reports dealing with the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American gang and related criminal enterprises, including updated information on gang activity across America. Each report is professionally converted for accurate flowing-text ebook format reproduction.Contents: Mara Salvatrucha Street Gang: An International Criminal Enterprise with Roots in El Salvador's Civil War * How is MS-13 a Threat to U.S. National Security? * Going Global on Gangs: New Partnership Targets MS-13 * The MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs: Emerging Transnational Gang Threats? * Gangs in Central America * Los Zetas and MS-13: Nontraditional Alliances * Escalating Violence in El Salvador * The Likelihood of Collaboration Between Central American Transnational Gangs and Terrorist Organizations * Defining Mara Salvatrucha's Texas Network * Central America and Mexico Gang AssessmentRising crime is threatening democratic development and slowing economic growth across Central America and Mexico. Gang activity has transcended the borders of Central America, Mexico, and the United States and evolved into a transnational concern that demands a coordinated, multi-national response to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated criminal gang networks. Whereas gang activity used to be territorially confined to local neighborhoods, globalization, sophisticated communications technologies, and travel patterns have facilitated the expansion of gang activity across neighborhoods, cities, and countries. The monikers of notorious gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) now appear in communities throughout the United States, Central America, and Mexico. Members of these international gangs move fluidly in and out of these neighboring countries. The U.S. Congress has recognized that some gangs in Latin America and the United States are international criminal organizations whose criminal activities in the Americas have damaging effects on national security by increasing domestic crime levels and facilitating drug trafficking.The federal response to the MS-13 and M-18 gang problem has largely involved the enforcement of criminal and immigration laws, including the deportation of alien gang members. More recently, federal efforts have focused on prosecuting gang members under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Deported alien gang members have established MS-13 and M-18 gang cliques in their home countries, and some experts suggest that U.S. deportation policies have effectively transported U.S.-styled gang culture to parts of Central America and Mexico. Moreover, evidence shows that deported alien MS-13 and M-18 gang members have established a "revolving door" migratory pattern of repeat illegal reentry into the United States, raising concerns that these "migratory" alien gang members may become involved in narco-trafficking, smuggling, and other criminal activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.


Book Synopsis Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang by :

Download or read book Complete Guide to the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American Gang written by and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an authoritative compilation of ten major documents and reports dealing with the MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha Central American gang and related criminal enterprises, including updated information on gang activity across America. Each report is professionally converted for accurate flowing-text ebook format reproduction.Contents: Mara Salvatrucha Street Gang: An International Criminal Enterprise with Roots in El Salvador's Civil War * How is MS-13 a Threat to U.S. National Security? * Going Global on Gangs: New Partnership Targets MS-13 * The MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs: Emerging Transnational Gang Threats? * Gangs in Central America * Los Zetas and MS-13: Nontraditional Alliances * Escalating Violence in El Salvador * The Likelihood of Collaboration Between Central American Transnational Gangs and Terrorist Organizations * Defining Mara Salvatrucha's Texas Network * Central America and Mexico Gang AssessmentRising crime is threatening democratic development and slowing economic growth across Central America and Mexico. Gang activity has transcended the borders of Central America, Mexico, and the United States and evolved into a transnational concern that demands a coordinated, multi-national response to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated criminal gang networks. Whereas gang activity used to be territorially confined to local neighborhoods, globalization, sophisticated communications technologies, and travel patterns have facilitated the expansion of gang activity across neighborhoods, cities, and countries. The monikers of notorious gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) now appear in communities throughout the United States, Central America, and Mexico. Members of these international gangs move fluidly in and out of these neighboring countries. The U.S. Congress has recognized that some gangs in Latin America and the United States are international criminal organizations whose criminal activities in the Americas have damaging effects on national security by increasing domestic crime levels and facilitating drug trafficking.The federal response to the MS-13 and M-18 gang problem has largely involved the enforcement of criminal and immigration laws, including the deportation of alien gang members. More recently, federal efforts have focused on prosecuting gang members under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Deported alien gang members have established MS-13 and M-18 gang cliques in their home countries, and some experts suggest that U.S. deportation policies have effectively transported U.S.-styled gang culture to parts of Central America and Mexico. Moreover, evidence shows that deported alien MS-13 and M-18 gang members have established a "revolving door" migratory pattern of repeat illegal reentry into the United States, raising concerns that these "migratory" alien gang members may become involved in narco-trafficking, smuggling, and other criminal activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.


Gangs and Crime in America

Gangs and Crime in America

Author: U. S. Government

Publisher:

Published: 2017-04-22

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13: 9781521126691

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The first report deals with the potential threat to American national security from transnational street gangs, with the most widely recognized and publicized of these gangs is Mara Salvatrucha (aka MS-13). Street gangs have been a regional problem in the United States for a long time. The Department of Justice estimates there are "approximately 30,000 gangs, with over 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities" in the US. Innocent people have been exposed to violence from these gangs for decades, but today's gangs seem more violent and organized than ever. Some even seem to be growing and evolving into transnational threats. These evolving groups are known as Transnational Street Gangs because of their ability to operate across national borders. Spreading throughout the United States, they are assimilating smaller gangs and bringing a culture of violence and destruction everywhere they go. Known for brutality, these groups are already threatening the stability of several countries in Central America. MS-13 first appeared on the streets of Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Started by a group of El Salvadoran refugees, the gang has spread to 42 states and grown to become one of the most violent gangs in America. One of the fastest growing gangs in the US, MS-13 has also spread to six countries in Central America and Canada. Although specific numbers vary, sources estimate there are between 10,000 and 20,000 MS-13 members in the United States and up to 250,000 in Central America. This paper will look at the international threat from MS-13 by examining the gang's history and identifying the characteristics that make MS-13 an international problem. The paper will then identify immediate and developing areas of concern and recommend how the US should mitigate the resulting threats. The second report deals with the issue of unaccompanied alien children (UAC). After several years of increases, the number apprehended at the Southwest border by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) peaked at 68,541 in FY2014. Some Members of Congress as well as the Obama Administration have characterized the issue as a humanitarian crisis. The reasons why they migrate to the United States are often multifaceted and difficult to measure analytically. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has analyzed several out-migration-related factors, such as violent crime rates, economic conditions, rates of poverty, and the presence of transnational gangs. CRS also has analyzed in-migration-related factors, such as the search for economic opportunity, the desire to reunite with family members, and U.S. immigration policies.


Book Synopsis Gangs and Crime in America by : U. S. Government

Download or read book Gangs and Crime in America written by U. S. Government and published by . This book was released on 2017-04-22 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first report deals with the potential threat to American national security from transnational street gangs, with the most widely recognized and publicized of these gangs is Mara Salvatrucha (aka MS-13). Street gangs have been a regional problem in the United States for a long time. The Department of Justice estimates there are "approximately 30,000 gangs, with over 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities" in the US. Innocent people have been exposed to violence from these gangs for decades, but today's gangs seem more violent and organized than ever. Some even seem to be growing and evolving into transnational threats. These evolving groups are known as Transnational Street Gangs because of their ability to operate across national borders. Spreading throughout the United States, they are assimilating smaller gangs and bringing a culture of violence and destruction everywhere they go. Known for brutality, these groups are already threatening the stability of several countries in Central America. MS-13 first appeared on the streets of Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Started by a group of El Salvadoran refugees, the gang has spread to 42 states and grown to become one of the most violent gangs in America. One of the fastest growing gangs in the US, MS-13 has also spread to six countries in Central America and Canada. Although specific numbers vary, sources estimate there are between 10,000 and 20,000 MS-13 members in the United States and up to 250,000 in Central America. This paper will look at the international threat from MS-13 by examining the gang's history and identifying the characteristics that make MS-13 an international problem. The paper will then identify immediate and developing areas of concern and recommend how the US should mitigate the resulting threats. The second report deals with the issue of unaccompanied alien children (UAC). After several years of increases, the number apprehended at the Southwest border by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) peaked at 68,541 in FY2014. Some Members of Congress as well as the Obama Administration have characterized the issue as a humanitarian crisis. The reasons why they migrate to the United States are often multifaceted and difficult to measure analytically. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has analyzed several out-migration-related factors, such as violent crime rates, economic conditions, rates of poverty, and the presence of transnational gangs. CRS also has analyzed in-migration-related factors, such as the search for economic opportunity, the desire to reunite with family members, and U.S. immigration policies.


Gangs in Central America

Gangs in Central America

Author: Clare Ribando Seelke

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2010-05

Total Pages: 22

ISBN-13: 1437927637

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Contents: (1) Background on Violent Crime; (2) Scope of the Gang Problem: Defining Gangs; Transnational Gangs; Factors Exacerbating the Gang Problem; Poverty and a Lack of Educ. and Employ. Opport.; Societal Stigmas; Role of the Media; Anti-Gang Law Enforce. Efforts; Prisons in Need of Reform; U.S. Deportations; (3) Country Anti-Gang Efforts: Mano Dura (Heavy-Handed) Anti-Gang Policies; Effects of Mano Dura Policies?; Alternative Approaches; Prospects for Country Prevention and Rehab. Efforts; Regional and Multilateral Efforts; OAS; Multilateral Develop. Banks and Donor Agencies; (4) U.S. Policy: Congressional Interest; U.S. Internat. Anti-Gang Efforts; State Dept.; Justice Dept.; USAID; Policy Approaches and Concerns.


Book Synopsis Gangs in Central America by : Clare Ribando Seelke

Download or read book Gangs in Central America written by Clare Ribando Seelke and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-05 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contents: (1) Background on Violent Crime; (2) Scope of the Gang Problem: Defining Gangs; Transnational Gangs; Factors Exacerbating the Gang Problem; Poverty and a Lack of Educ. and Employ. Opport.; Societal Stigmas; Role of the Media; Anti-Gang Law Enforce. Efforts; Prisons in Need of Reform; U.S. Deportations; (3) Country Anti-Gang Efforts: Mano Dura (Heavy-Handed) Anti-Gang Policies; Effects of Mano Dura Policies?; Alternative Approaches; Prospects for Country Prevention and Rehab. Efforts; Regional and Multilateral Efforts; OAS; Multilateral Develop. Banks and Donor Agencies; (4) U.S. Policy: Congressional Interest; U.S. Internat. Anti-Gang Efforts; State Dept.; Justice Dept.; USAID; Policy Approaches and Concerns.


MS-13 in the United States and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts

MS-13 in the United States and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts

Author: Congressional Research Service

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2018-09-06

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 9781727034578

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The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is a violent criminal gang operating both in the United States and abroad-namely Central America. MS-13 was formed on the streets of Los Angeles, CA, in the 1980s by refugees who were fleeing civil conflict in El Salvador. It became a transnational gang as MS-13 members who were deported from the United States to Central America helped establish gang ties and spread U.S. gang culture abroad. In the United States, MS-13's structure largely consists of loosely organized cells, or "cliques," that each control specific territory. While some have suggested that the size of MS-13 has grown in the United States, since at least 2005 law enforcement officials have consistently cited its membership to be around 10,000. Domestically, MS-13 has been involved in local crimes including extortion, drug distribution, prostitution, robbery, and murder, as well as transnational illicit activity such as drug trafficking and human smuggling and trafficking. The gang is known for its particularly violent criminality, which has been demonstrated in a reported uptick in violent homicides attributed to MS-13 in certain locales. Countering gang crime has often been the purview of state and local law enforcement. However, given that gang activity is not constrained by jurisdictional boundaries, and that local law enforcement agencies may not have the capacity to investigate complex gang crimes, federal law enforcement has had a long-standing interest in countering gangs, including MS-13. One element in determining the appropriate federal policy responses to tackle threats posed by MS-13 may be to have a clear conceptualization of the gang. Researchers and criminal justice system authorities have primarily described MS-13 as a criminal gang or a transnational criminal organization (TCO)-concepts that have some overlap in structure, motivation, and criminality. Whether MS-13 demonstrates elements that are uniquely gang or TCO may help inform the federal policy response to its illegal activities. Another challenge in countering the danger posed by MS-13 is understanding the scope of the threat. Key questions focus on the validity of existing estimates and whether the gang is growing in number or in territory. Thus, policymakers may question how officials define and determine gang membership. While there is no centralized database to track gang membership, a number of agencies maintain datasets that contain gang-related information. Policymakers may also question how this information is shared and utilized. Oversight bodies such as the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have recommended means by which federal law enforcement could enhance its enforcement efforts against violent criminal gangs such as MS-13, and policymakers may take interest in whether some of these recommendations are still relevant. There is also a current debate about the relationship between gangs such as MS-13 and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) arriving in the United States. Some have suggested that MS-13's presence in Central America could continue to drive unauthorized migration into the United States by those seeking to escape the gang and its violence. There are also concerns that MS-13 may exploit the U.S. Southwest border by bringing young gang members from Central America to the United States as UAC or may recruit some of the vulnerable UAC to join the gang's ranks once in the United States. Policymakers may seek more data from officials in order to understand the nuances of these potential relationships between MS-13 and UAC.


Book Synopsis MS-13 in the United States and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts by : Congressional Research Service

Download or read book MS-13 in the United States and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts written by Congressional Research Service and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-09-06 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is a violent criminal gang operating both in the United States and abroad-namely Central America. MS-13 was formed on the streets of Los Angeles, CA, in the 1980s by refugees who were fleeing civil conflict in El Salvador. It became a transnational gang as MS-13 members who were deported from the United States to Central America helped establish gang ties and spread U.S. gang culture abroad. In the United States, MS-13's structure largely consists of loosely organized cells, or "cliques," that each control specific territory. While some have suggested that the size of MS-13 has grown in the United States, since at least 2005 law enforcement officials have consistently cited its membership to be around 10,000. Domestically, MS-13 has been involved in local crimes including extortion, drug distribution, prostitution, robbery, and murder, as well as transnational illicit activity such as drug trafficking and human smuggling and trafficking. The gang is known for its particularly violent criminality, which has been demonstrated in a reported uptick in violent homicides attributed to MS-13 in certain locales. Countering gang crime has often been the purview of state and local law enforcement. However, given that gang activity is not constrained by jurisdictional boundaries, and that local law enforcement agencies may not have the capacity to investigate complex gang crimes, federal law enforcement has had a long-standing interest in countering gangs, including MS-13. One element in determining the appropriate federal policy responses to tackle threats posed by MS-13 may be to have a clear conceptualization of the gang. Researchers and criminal justice system authorities have primarily described MS-13 as a criminal gang or a transnational criminal organization (TCO)-concepts that have some overlap in structure, motivation, and criminality. Whether MS-13 demonstrates elements that are uniquely gang or TCO may help inform the federal policy response to its illegal activities. Another challenge in countering the danger posed by MS-13 is understanding the scope of the threat. Key questions focus on the validity of existing estimates and whether the gang is growing in number or in territory. Thus, policymakers may question how officials define and determine gang membership. While there is no centralized database to track gang membership, a number of agencies maintain datasets that contain gang-related information. Policymakers may also question how this information is shared and utilized. Oversight bodies such as the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have recommended means by which federal law enforcement could enhance its enforcement efforts against violent criminal gangs such as MS-13, and policymakers may take interest in whether some of these recommendations are still relevant. There is also a current debate about the relationship between gangs such as MS-13 and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) arriving in the United States. Some have suggested that MS-13's presence in Central America could continue to drive unauthorized migration into the United States by those seeking to escape the gang and its violence. There are also concerns that MS-13 may exploit the U.S. Southwest border by bringing young gang members from Central America to the United States as UAC or may recruit some of the vulnerable UAC to join the gang's ranks once in the United States. Policymakers may seek more data from officials in order to understand the nuances of these potential relationships between MS-13 and UAC.


State of War

State of War

Author: William Wheeler (Journalist)

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781733623735

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"Born in Los Angeles, the gang MS-13 was founded in the 1980s by Salvadoran refugees who had been hardened in a civil war stoked by American foreign policy. But the gang found its way home a decade later, as the U.S. began deporting thousands of convicts each year back to the Northern Triangle-El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Today, those countries share the world's highest murder rates, and account for 70 percent of the migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border. Foreign correspondent William Wheeler tracks MS-13 from L.A., where he meets a co-founder of the gang, to El Salvador, where three generations of Salvadorans have been drawn into an escalating cycle of conflict. State of War tells the tragic story of a brutal civil war that has never ended"--


Book Synopsis State of War by : William Wheeler (Journalist)

Download or read book State of War written by William Wheeler (Journalist) and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Born in Los Angeles, the gang MS-13 was founded in the 1980s by Salvadoran refugees who had been hardened in a civil war stoked by American foreign policy. But the gang found its way home a decade later, as the U.S. began deporting thousands of convicts each year back to the Northern Triangle-El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Today, those countries share the world's highest murder rates, and account for 70 percent of the migrants arriving at the U.S. southern border. Foreign correspondent William Wheeler tracks MS-13 from L.A., where he meets a co-founder of the gang, to El Salvador, where three generations of Salvadorans have been drawn into an escalating cycle of conflict. State of War tells the tragic story of a brutal civil war that has never ended"--


Gangs and Crime in America

Gangs and Crime in America

Author: U. S. Government

Publisher:

Published: 2017-04-22

Total Pages: 81

ISBN-13: 9781521127483

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The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its main rival, the "18th Street" gang, continue to undermine citizen security and subvert government authority in parts of Central America. Gang-related violence has been particularly acute in El Salvador, Honduras, and urban areas in Guatemala, contributing to some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Congress has maintained an interest in the effects of gang-related crime and violence on governance, citizen security, and investment in Central America. Congress has examined the role that gang-related violence has played in fueling mixed migration flows, which have included asylum seekers, by families and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) to the United States. Since FY2008, Congress has appropriated funding for anti-gang efforts in Central America. Central American governments have struggled to address the gang problem. From 2012 to 2014, the government of El Salvador facilitated a historic--and risky--truce involving the country's largest gangs. The truce contributed to a temporary reduction in homicides but strengthened the gangs. Since taking office in June 2014, President Salvador Sanchez Ceren has adopted repression-oriented anti-gang policies similar those implemented in the mid-2000s, including relying on the military to support anti-gang efforts. El Salvador's attorney general is investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings committed by police engaged in anti-gang efforts. Successive Honduran governments have generally relied on suppression-oriented policies toward the gangs as well, with some funding provided in recent years to support community-level prevention programs. The Guatemalan government has generally relied on periodic law-enforcement operations to round up suspected gang members.This report describes the gang problem in Central America, discusses country approaches to deal with the gangs, and analyzes U.S. policy with respect to gangs in Central America. Congressional oversight may focus on the efficacy of anti-gang efforts in Central America; the interaction between U.S. domestic and international anti-gang policies, and the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on law-enforcement efforts.Scope of the Gang Problem in Central America * Defining Gangs * Transnational Gangs in Central America * Gang Activities in Central America * Factors Exacerbating the Gang Problem in Central America * Legacies of War and Authoritarian Rule: Arms and Violence * Poverty and a Lack of Educational and Employment Opportunities * Societal Stigmas * Prisons in Need of Reform * U.S. Removals (Deportations) to Central America and the Gang Problem * Country Anti-gang Efforts * Mano Dura (Heavy-Handed) Anti-gang Policies * El Salvador's 2012 Gang Truce and Dissolution * Military Involvement in Public Security and Human Rights * Approaches in Other Central American Countries * Prospects for Country Prevention and Rehabilitation Efforts * U.S. Policy * Congressional Interest and Appropriations * Evolution of U.S. International Anti-gang Efforts * State Department * U.S. Agency for International Development * Department of Justice * Department of Homeland Security * U.S. Treasury Department * Possible Questions for Oversight


Book Synopsis Gangs and Crime in America by : U. S. Government

Download or read book Gangs and Crime in America written by U. S. Government and published by . This book was released on 2017-04-22 with total page 81 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its main rival, the "18th Street" gang, continue to undermine citizen security and subvert government authority in parts of Central America. Gang-related violence has been particularly acute in El Salvador, Honduras, and urban areas in Guatemala, contributing to some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Congress has maintained an interest in the effects of gang-related crime and violence on governance, citizen security, and investment in Central America. Congress has examined the role that gang-related violence has played in fueling mixed migration flows, which have included asylum seekers, by families and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) to the United States. Since FY2008, Congress has appropriated funding for anti-gang efforts in Central America. Central American governments have struggled to address the gang problem. From 2012 to 2014, the government of El Salvador facilitated a historic--and risky--truce involving the country's largest gangs. The truce contributed to a temporary reduction in homicides but strengthened the gangs. Since taking office in June 2014, President Salvador Sanchez Ceren has adopted repression-oriented anti-gang policies similar those implemented in the mid-2000s, including relying on the military to support anti-gang efforts. El Salvador's attorney general is investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings committed by police engaged in anti-gang efforts. Successive Honduran governments have generally relied on suppression-oriented policies toward the gangs as well, with some funding provided in recent years to support community-level prevention programs. The Guatemalan government has generally relied on periodic law-enforcement operations to round up suspected gang members.This report describes the gang problem in Central America, discusses country approaches to deal with the gangs, and analyzes U.S. policy with respect to gangs in Central America. Congressional oversight may focus on the efficacy of anti-gang efforts in Central America; the interaction between U.S. domestic and international anti-gang policies, and the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on law-enforcement efforts.Scope of the Gang Problem in Central America * Defining Gangs * Transnational Gangs in Central America * Gang Activities in Central America * Factors Exacerbating the Gang Problem in Central America * Legacies of War and Authoritarian Rule: Arms and Violence * Poverty and a Lack of Educational and Employment Opportunities * Societal Stigmas * Prisons in Need of Reform * U.S. Removals (Deportations) to Central America and the Gang Problem * Country Anti-gang Efforts * Mano Dura (Heavy-Handed) Anti-gang Policies * El Salvador's 2012 Gang Truce and Dissolution * Military Involvement in Public Security and Human Rights * Approaches in Other Central American Countries * Prospects for Country Prevention and Rehabilitation Efforts * U.S. Policy * Congressional Interest and Appropriations * Evolution of U.S. International Anti-gang Efforts * State Department * U.S. Agency for International Development * Department of Justice * Department of Homeland Security * U.S. Treasury Department * Possible Questions for Oversight


Gangs and Crime in America

Gangs and Crime in America

Author: U. S. Government

Publisher:

Published: 2017-04-22

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 9781521131060

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This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This study focuses on the issue of the growing threat of transnational criminal gangs spreading throughout the Central America and the United States (U.S.). More specifically, the study addresses the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, examining how this particular gang emerged as a formidable public security threat. A common misconception holds transnational gangs like MS-13 emerged in Central America; however, the truth is these gangs have their origins in the gang lifestyle found in the U.S. Since the early 1990's, MS-13 and similar transnational gangs have established criminal networks specializing in drug, arms, goods, and human smuggling. These operations pose a grave threat to U.S. national security: intelligence reports surfaced in 2004 indicating a possible meeting between an al-Qaeda lieutenant and members of MS-13. Due to these reports, U.S. agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are among the agencies that have started to work closely in monitoring transnational gang activity in the U.S. and the western hemisphere region. While MS-13 does not hold any anti-American sentiment, the gang will work with the highest bidder without hesitation. Therefore, the study addresses the organized crime-terrorist organization debate within the academic and intelligence communities, adding how globalization serves to facilitate such a link. The study helps to explain how current Central American legislation is forcing transnational gangs to go "underground" in order to survive. Findings show the need to switch towards a more multi-faceted strategy in order to ensure long-term solutions to the proliferation of transnational gangs not obtainable with current heavy-handed methods while concurrently reducing the risk of a terrorist-transnational gang link in the western hemisphere. I. THE LIKELIHOOD OF COOPERATION * A. THE THREAT OF RISING CRIME * B. ATTRACTION TO TRANSNATIONAL GANGS * C. LITERATURE REVIEW: AN OVERVIEW * 1. Organized Crime and Terrorist Organization Link Debate * a. "Cooperation is Likely" School of Thought * b. "Cooperation is Unlikely" School of Thought * 2. Western Hemisphere's Transnational Gangs Problem * 3. Conclusion * D. RESEARCH DESIGN * II. ORGANIZED CRIME AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS * A. INTRODUCTION * B. ORGANIZED CRIME * 1. Major Characteristics * a. Organizational Structures * b. Use of Violence * c. Secrecy * C. TERRORIST THAT REVERT TO CRIME * 1. Post Cold War Environment * 2. Alternate Avenues for Funding * a. Entry-Level Crime * b. Existing Networks * D. GLOBALIZATION * 1. Individual Level and Non-state Actors * 2. Regional Level * 3. National Level * 4. Globalization's Dark Side * a. Drugs * b. Arms Trafficking * c. Alien Smuggling * d. Money Laundering * e. Intellectual Property * E. OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSION * 1. Motivation as a Separator * 2. Terrorist-Criminal Link through Similarities * III. MARA SALVATRUCHA BACKGROUND * A. INTRODUCTION * B. CIVIL WARS: MARA SALVATRUCHA ORIGINS * C. ORGANIZATION * D. DEMOGRAPHICS * E. CURRENT THREAT * 1. El Salvador * 2. Honduras * 3. Southern Mexico * 4. United States * F. CONCLUSION * IV. CURRENT RESPONSES TO TRANSNATIONAL GANGS * A. INTRODUCTION * B. WHO OR WHAT IS TO BLAME * 1. Economic Liberalization * 2. Violence and Overwhelmed Police Forces * C. HEAVY HANDED RESPONSES: EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS * 1. Citizenry Reception * 2. Critiques * a. Central American Prison Systems * b. Vigilante Organizations * D. ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES: NICARAGUA AND PANAMA * 1. Legislation * E. THE SEEMINGLY UNDECIDED: GUATEMALA * F. U.S.: CURRENT RESPONSE * G. CONCLUSION * V. CONCLUSION * A. WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRANSNATIONAL GANG-TERRORIST LINK IS PLAUSIBLE * B. RECOMMENDATIONS


Book Synopsis Gangs and Crime in America by : U. S. Government

Download or read book Gangs and Crime in America written by U. S. Government and published by . This book was released on 2017-04-22 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This study focuses on the issue of the growing threat of transnational criminal gangs spreading throughout the Central America and the United States (U.S.). More specifically, the study addresses the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, examining how this particular gang emerged as a formidable public security threat. A common misconception holds transnational gangs like MS-13 emerged in Central America; however, the truth is these gangs have their origins in the gang lifestyle found in the U.S. Since the early 1990's, MS-13 and similar transnational gangs have established criminal networks specializing in drug, arms, goods, and human smuggling. These operations pose a grave threat to U.S. national security: intelligence reports surfaced in 2004 indicating a possible meeting between an al-Qaeda lieutenant and members of MS-13. Due to these reports, U.S. agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are among the agencies that have started to work closely in monitoring transnational gang activity in the U.S. and the western hemisphere region. While MS-13 does not hold any anti-American sentiment, the gang will work with the highest bidder without hesitation. Therefore, the study addresses the organized crime-terrorist organization debate within the academic and intelligence communities, adding how globalization serves to facilitate such a link. The study helps to explain how current Central American legislation is forcing transnational gangs to go "underground" in order to survive. Findings show the need to switch towards a more multi-faceted strategy in order to ensure long-term solutions to the proliferation of transnational gangs not obtainable with current heavy-handed methods while concurrently reducing the risk of a terrorist-transnational gang link in the western hemisphere. I. THE LIKELIHOOD OF COOPERATION * A. THE THREAT OF RISING CRIME * B. ATTRACTION TO TRANSNATIONAL GANGS * C. LITERATURE REVIEW: AN OVERVIEW * 1. Organized Crime and Terrorist Organization Link Debate * a. "Cooperation is Likely" School of Thought * b. "Cooperation is Unlikely" School of Thought * 2. Western Hemisphere's Transnational Gangs Problem * 3. Conclusion * D. RESEARCH DESIGN * II. ORGANIZED CRIME AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS * A. INTRODUCTION * B. ORGANIZED CRIME * 1. Major Characteristics * a. Organizational Structures * b. Use of Violence * c. Secrecy * C. TERRORIST THAT REVERT TO CRIME * 1. Post Cold War Environment * 2. Alternate Avenues for Funding * a. Entry-Level Crime * b. Existing Networks * D. GLOBALIZATION * 1. Individual Level and Non-state Actors * 2. Regional Level * 3. National Level * 4. Globalization's Dark Side * a. Drugs * b. Arms Trafficking * c. Alien Smuggling * d. Money Laundering * e. Intellectual Property * E. OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSION * 1. Motivation as a Separator * 2. Terrorist-Criminal Link through Similarities * III. MARA SALVATRUCHA BACKGROUND * A. INTRODUCTION * B. CIVIL WARS: MARA SALVATRUCHA ORIGINS * C. ORGANIZATION * D. DEMOGRAPHICS * E. CURRENT THREAT * 1. El Salvador * 2. Honduras * 3. Southern Mexico * 4. United States * F. CONCLUSION * IV. CURRENT RESPONSES TO TRANSNATIONAL GANGS * A. INTRODUCTION * B. WHO OR WHAT IS TO BLAME * 1. Economic Liberalization * 2. Violence and Overwhelmed Police Forces * C. HEAVY HANDED RESPONSES: EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS * 1. Citizenry Reception * 2. Critiques * a. Central American Prison Systems * b. Vigilante Organizations * D. ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES: NICARAGUA AND PANAMA * 1. Legislation * E. THE SEEMINGLY UNDECIDED: GUATEMALA * F. U.S.: CURRENT RESPONSE * G. CONCLUSION * V. CONCLUSION * A. WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRANSNATIONAL GANG-TERRORIST LINK IS PLAUSIBLE * B. RECOMMENDATIONS