| Since the early nineties, criminal gang networks | | | | to their home countries upon completion of their |
| operating across the border between the United | | | | prison terms.In many cases, young men who were |
| States and Central America have exploded in power | | | | arrested for assault, drug dealing, or other relatively |
| and number. The gangs take advantage of loopholes | | | | low-level profit-making criminal activity entered the |
| in international immigration and deportation policies to | | | | prison system. U.S. immigration authorities then |
| spread their influence through extreme violence.The | | | | identified them as not having proper documentation |
| Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, has become one of the | | | | and tagged them for deportation.Many of these |
| "Most Wanted" of these gangs. What began as a | | | | young men came to the United States as children in |
| loosely-connected group of Salvadoran immigrant | | | | the 1980s with their parents to flee the civil wars in |
| youth banded together for protection in the | | | | Central America. They do not have strong familial |
| join-or-die gang culture of Los Angeles has now | | | | connections in Central America, and in some cases do |
| grown into a transnational criminal hydra involved in | | | | not even speak Spanish well. Often their "return" to |
| murder, extortion, and some gun and drug | | | | their homeland is like arriving alone in a foreign |
| smuggling.U.S. deportation policies aggressively send | | | | country.The growing problem of the MS-13 in Central |
| undocumented gang members back to their home | | | | America highlights inadequate immigration controls and |
| countries in Central America. They export U.S. gang | | | | poor deportation policies. To effectively tackle the |
| culture and hardened criminals to countries whose | | | | problem requires binational efforts that combine |
| internal security forces are ill-equipped to deal with | | | | immigration reform, changes in deportation policies, as |
| the new threat. The street gangs have rapidly grown | | | | well as domestic security measures. It also requires |
| beyond being just a neighborhood problem to | | | | U.S. policies to effectively handle the realities of |
| presenting a real national security threat in these | | | | immigration as well as manage foreign nationals, both |
| countries.Criminal deportees bring tactics, organization, | | | | legal and undocumented, living in the United States.In |
| and other criminal skills learned in U.S. prisons. These | | | | fiscal year 1997, the INS deported 111,794 illegal |
| abilities translate into more sophisticated networks | | | | foreigners. Over half had been convicted of a crime |
| that have created a web that spans across | | | | in the United States. It was the first time the INS |
| Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Over time this | | | | had deported over 100,000 illegal residents in one |
| network has made some links with organized crime, | | | | year."In that process [the United States] has |
| acting at times like foot soldiers to help with | | | | managed to export U.S. gang-style culture, customs, |
| smuggling, assassination, and other duties.Street | | | | and contacts," said Geoff Thale, a Senior Associate |
| gangs remain distinct from organized crime. But they | | | | for Central America at the Washington Office on |
| have become a leading cause of insecurity in Central | | | | Latin America.Gang members that are sent back to |
| America. The region's history with clandestine death | | | | their home countries bring with them more |
| squads, drug and gun smuggling, corruption, and | | | | sophisticated methods, organizational strategies, and |
| violence during the U.S.-supported "dirty wars" | | | | contacts in the United States-all facilitating a more |
| provided a propitious culture for the gangs' insertion | | | | aggressive and organized criminal enterprise. These |
| into society. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation | | | | factors combine to create a loosely-tied network of |
| as well as national police in three Central American | | | | street gangs that have complete control over towns |
| countries actively seek solutions to break this | | | | and suburban areas in Honduras, El Salvador, and |
| 20-year-old cycle, but U.S. authorities and their Central | | | | Guatemala.Their often illegal status in the United |
| American colleagues face a difficult game of | | | | States has thrust the U.S. Department of Homeland |
| catch-up.Born in the USA | | | | Security's section of Immigration and Customs |
| The civil wars that ravaged Guatemala, Honduras, | | | | Enforcement to the forefront of U.S. authorities' |
| and El Salvador in the 1980s displaced tens of | | | | strategies. This national security and international |
| thousands of Central Americans from their homes | | | | staging approach has caused some friction with local |
| into Mexico and the United States. Many of these | | | | officials who would prefer to deal with it within their |
| families settled in cities in the United States close to | | | | own security strategies.Central American Security |
| the Mexican border. Cities such as Los Angeles | | | | Meanwhile, Central American governments have |
| absorbed large communities of Central Americans | | | | taken a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with |
| who sought to carve out a space in the city's poor | | | | street gangs. While many observers agree that the |
| neighborhoods that had been controlled by Mexican | | | | gang problem is a symptom of large-scale social |
| street gangs since as early as the 1950s.The word | | | | problems rooted in poverty, unemployment, and |
| "mara" loosely translated from Spanish means group | | | | limited opportunity, government officials have |
| or gang. Salvatrucha, in Salvadoran Spanish slang, | | | | harnessed popular support among voters through |
| means a streetwise Salvadoran. Mara Salvatruchas is | | | | promoting policies commonly referred to as "hard |
| a term that refers to Salvadoran immigrants who | | | | hand" and "iron fist" or mano dura in Spanish.Mano |
| formed gangs in the 70s and 80s to protect | | | | dura policies specifically target street gangs, also |
| themselves from their rivals in the street gangs that | | | | referred to as pandillas. In El Salvador, the Super |
| dominated Los Angeles at that time.The number 13 | | | | Mano Dura policy is made up of four axes, |
| marks the position of the letter "m" in the alphabet | | | | Salvadoran spokesman for the Ministry of |
| and is a nod to the Mexican Mafia, a gang that | | | | Government, Porfirio Chica, told the Americas |
| controls the prisons in Southern California. Put | | | | Program. They are: prevention, rehabilitation, |
| together, the name "MS-13" states membership of a | | | | combating crime, and reinsertion. Yet the policy, |
| gang, primarily made up of Salvadorans, that holds | | | | when implemented, often leads to national police |
| allegiance to the Mexican Mafia in Southern | | | | officers targeting young men and women for arrest |
| California.The MS-13 formed in California, but over the | | | | based on tattoos, loitering on certain street corners, |
| years has spread into Central America due to | | | | or simply association with known gang members. |
| transnational movement of gang members through | | | | Cops who arrest gang members see many of them |
| choice or deportation. Since the mid-90s, the U.S. | | | | released within 24 hours due to lack of evidence |
| Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has | | | | pertaining to real crimes. "Of the 10,000 street gang |
| actively deported tens of thousands of convicted | | | | members currently located in the Salvadorian criminal |
| criminals back to their countries of birth in Central | | | | database, over 3,000 currently reside in prison," Chica |
| America.After September 11, 2001, INS was | | | | said, adding that "because of a tendency for criminals |
| absorbed into U.S. Immigration and Customs | | | | to organize themselves in prison we have taken the |
| Enforcement (ICE), under the umbrella of the U.S. | | | | leaders and placed them in separate maximum |
| Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ICE, | | | | security prisons."These policies have spurred an |
| working with the other DHS components, presents a | | | | unofficial war between gang members and the police. |
| more comprehensive approach to tackling | | | | Politicians and other members of Central America's |
| transnational gang violence. However, years of | | | | elite social classes have also been accused of paying |
| questionable deportation policies have left the | | | | individuals, including off-duty police officers, to hunt |
| organization with a formidable challenge.In many | | | | down and assassinate gang members. The retaliation |
| cases, deported individuals were brought to the | | | | to these street vigilante actions from MS-13 |
| United States at a young age. So when they are | | | | members has been brutal, violent, and |
| deported to Central America, they have little to | | | | widespread.Carmen Aida Ibarra, a researcher with the |
| depend on in their home countries, outside of gang | | | | Guatemala-based Myrna Mack Foundation, told the |
| connections.The MS-13 is now an established | | | | Americas Program that "corruption plays an important |
| presence in Central America. It actively recruits young | | | | role because it is the principal factor that impedes the |
| men and women, who in turn eventually find | | | | deconstruction of clandestine groups." Private |
| themselves back in the United States as illegal | | | | individuals or interests perpetuate the illegal violent |
| immigrants. This cycle, fed in part by U.S. deportation | | | | activities of these groups by paying them not to kill |
| strategies, has increased MS-13 numbers in both | | | | communists but young gang members.Five years |
| Central America and the United States, where there | | | | after El Salvador's civil war ended in 1991, the country |
| is now a significant MS-13 presence on both the east | | | | boasted the world's highest death rate per capita, |
| and west coasts.Over the years, the MS-13 grew | | | | with over 150 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants. |
| and members moved beyond Los Angeles into other | | | | Polls showed that during this time, some 46% of the |
| U.S. cities. MS-13 presence has been spotted in over | | | | population believed that citizens retained the right to |
| 33 U.S. states as well as the District of Colombia. | | | | deliver justice with their own hands.While authorities |
| There are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 MS-13 | | | | have been targeting gang and criminal violence, the |
| members in the United States, according to the U.S. | | | | success of polices like mano dura remains |
| Department of Justice.As the MS-13 grew throughout | | | | debatable."El Salvador still holds the region's number |
| the United States their clashes with rivals from the | | | | one spot for per capita homicides," Ricardo Montoya, |
| M-18 gang, as well as other street gangs, earned | | | | analyst with the Research Foundation for the |
| MS-13 members a strong reputation for brutal | | | | Application of Law, a Salvadoran research |
| violence. It is widely known that the MS-13 weapon | | | | organization, said in a recent interview. Montoya |
| of choice is a machete.Recruitment is often | | | | explained that crime, particularly homicide, has |
| self-selective, targets pre-adolescents, and more | | | | increased in El Salvador since the first application of |
| often than not leads to a life of crime where the | | | | mano dura politics in 2003.In 2005 there were 3,812 |
| only escape is through serious injury or death.Gang | | | | homicides, the highest figure in seven years. This is |
| Life | | | | an average of ten to 12 murders a day in a county |
| When he was nine, Luis, a former member of the | | | | of some 6.7 million people. According to the Legal |
| Mara Salvatrucha street gang, started hanging out | | | | Medical Institute, over 80% of those killed were shot |
| with gang members in Southern California. By the | | | | in the head.Guatemala currently registers over 100 |
| time he was 13 he was considered an unofficial | | | | homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, and many of those |
| member of the MS-13. His official membership began | | | | killed are young men believed to be associated with |
| when he was "jumped in." This process is part of | | | | street gangs. In 2004 some 5,553 youths were killed |
| gang law that requires that new members be jumped | | | | in Guatemala, according to Emilio Goubaud, director of |
| by a small group of peers who punch, kick, and | | | | the Association for the Prevention of Crime, a |
| otherwise pummel the new member for the duration | | | | Guatemalan organization.Perhaps the most public |
| of the initiation ceremony. Enduring the beating is a | | | | display of street gang activity happened in Honduras |
| show of toughness and loyalty to the gang." When it | | | | in December 2004 when a group of MS-13 members |
| became law that everybody had to get jumped in, | | | | attacked a bus with automatic rifles. They killed 28 |
| my homeboys said, 'Hey, you want to keep chillin' | | | | civilians and wounded 12 more. Their attack is |
| with us, you're gonna have to get jumped in'," Luis | | | | considered to be retaliation for mano dura policies |
| told the IRC Americas Program. "I was 16 or 17 | | | | promoted by the Honduran government. Specific |
| when I got jumped in," he said.Once young men and | | | | death threats, left in a note found at the scene of |
| women pass through this tough initiation, they join a | | | | the crime, were made to Honduran President Ricardo |
| large group of peers who provide support, | | | | Maduro and Congressional leader Lobo |
| protection, financial stability, and companionship. Luis | | | | Sosa.Transnational Cooperation |
| explained that, although in the United States he has | | | | "When [gang members] came out of the prison |
| never seen kids as young as seven or eight jumped | | | | systems of the United States and went back [to |
| in, he has seen 7-year-old kids already covered with | | | | their home countries], that's when they became |
| MS-13 tattoos in Central America. "They're basically | | | | more formalized. Then what happened is that the |
| homeless children," he said.Street gangs create social | | | | environment down there was right for these kinds of |
| networks that rely on crime to finance what is | | | | criminal activities and it just spread," Stanley Stoy, |
| essentially a lifestyle that allows youths to survive in | | | | acting director for the FBI's MS-13 National Gang |
| a world where there are limited opportunities, a lack | | | | Task Force, told Americas Program.Stoy explains that |
| of parental presence, and little to no hope for a | | | | the FBI began looking at the MS-13 more closely in |
| chance at a better life.Luis lived for a time in Virginia | | | | late 2004 due to its level of violence and |
| with his mother, and then eventually moved back to | | | | transnational presence. The FBI has been active in |
| California to live with his father and aunts, but there | | | | Central American countries, especially El Salvador, |
| was no central parental figure in his life. So his chosen | | | | assisting with intelligence gathering and promoting |
| family became his street gang."When I grew up and | | | | professionalism in the national police. On Sept. 7, 2005 |
| everything I joined the gang, I felt as though I owed | | | | the FBI participated in a day-long, large transnational |
| something to them, because they were there for me | | | | operation that included more than 6,400 federal |
| when I actually needed someone," Luis | | | | agents and other officers in 15 U.S. states, Mexico, |
| explained."They showed me love; they bought me | | | | and Central America. The operation netted 659 |
| shoes, clothes, stuff like that. So I felt comfortable | | | | arrests of MS-13 and other transnational gang |
| with them. I didn't sense any danger, or any fear | | | | members: 77 in the United States, 232 in El Salvador, |
| that they were going to get me in trouble. I only had | | | | 162 in Honduras, 98 in Guatemala, and 90 in Mexico's |
| positive thoughts. I knew what they did, but they | | | | Chiapas state, which shares a border with |
| explained to me why they do what they did."In the | | | | Guatemala.The operation's success demonstrated the |
| slums of Los Angeles and other cities in California, the | | | | benefits of transnational cooperation, but some |
| kids that come from broken or separated families in | | | | analysts warn that there are still over 100,000 street |
| marginal immigrant communities quickly fall into gangs. | | | | gang members in Honduras. Other estimates show |
| It's unavoidable, according to Luis."If you walk down | | | | that there are as many as some 600,000 street |
| the block, there is another gang there. Every block is | | | | gang members in El Salvador.While these numbers |
| a different gang, so people who live over there, | | | | may be inflated, they illustrate the extent of the |
| especially in neighborhoods where there are gangs, | | | | problem. On Sept. 1, 2005, El Salvador even took the |
| it's not like you really have a choice," he said.Getting | | | | step of deploying 1,000 soldiers to reinforce police |
| Out | | | | efforts to contain street gangs there.Experts like |
| During a high speed car chase with police about five | | | | Geoff Thale agree that military involvement is likely |
| years ago, Luis lost his left leg after he flew through | | | | to exacerbate the problem, as other heavy-handed |
| the front windshield of his car in a head-on collision. | | | | actions have done, rather than bring a rapid solution. |
| While recovering in the hospital, family members | | | | Increased professionalism among Central American |
| pleaded with him to see his survival of the crash as a | | | | police officers is perhaps the quickest route to |
| miracle, and a reason to consider if staying in MS-13 | | | | improving security there. U.S. deportation practices |
| was worth dying for."It did work. That's when I | | | | should be more sensitive to Central America's street |
| decided to chill, and I did chill for a while because I | | | | gang problems. But root causes based in poverty and |
| was in recovery. But then I ran into some friends at | | | | limited opportunity in Central American countries must |
| a party a few months later, and they wanted me to | | | | be addressed before this endemic security problem |
| come back into the game. I couldn't say no, because | | | | can be adequately combated.The FBI says that there |
| I knew if I didn't do something to prove I was still | | | | is no link between MS-13 and al-Qaida or other |
| chillin' with them, they would try and mess me up, | | | | terrorist groups, but experts believe that the MS-13 |
| even stab me, for not being loyal to them."When the | | | | and other street gang groups have become more |
| other members of MS-13 asked Luis to do a | | | | and more involved with the elite organized crime |
| car-jacking to prove he was still in the gang, they left | | | | groups that traffic guns and drugs in the region.If this |
| him alone at the scene when a local cop approached | | | | is the case, then what used to be a regional problem |
| and caught Luis stealing the car, landing him in jail. | | | | could very well stretch into a hemispheric |
| After being betrayed by his friends, "the last thing I | | | | phenomenon, where Colombian and Mexican |
| wanted while in prison was to hear from MS . I was | | | | organized crime elements outsource their dirty work |
| so angry, and felt like I had been betrayed, almost | | | | to Central America's street gangs. The recent efforts |
| like I had been set up," he explained.Back on the | | | | by U.S. authorities and their Central American |
| streets after serving some time for the car-jacking, | | | | counterparts represent a good start in tackling this |
| Luis continued to question what kind of friends his | | | | complex, multi-faceted transnational problem. What |
| gang buddies really were, guys who had forced him | | | | remains to be seen, however, is whether this new |
| to commit a crime, and then abandoned him in the | | | | concerted, multi-national approach can undo two |
| face of police heat. Even though his mind was now | | | | decades of problematic, uncoordinated efforts."It |
| filling with thoughts of leaving MS, he continued to | | | | may develop into something much greater if we |
| run with the gang, and was eventually arrested again, | | | | didn't address the problem," said Stoy of the FBI. |
| this time for possession of cocaine. Luis is still in the | | | | "We realize that if we didn't do anything toward this |
| United States, working to stay there and break out | | | | problem or to prevent its entrenchment here in the |
| of the cycle that has trapped so many other gang | | | | United States it would overtake us."Sam Logan ( is |
| members.Deportation Policy Exacerbates the Problem | | | | an investigative journalist who has reported on |
| | | | security, energy, politics, economics, organized crime, |
| U.S. immigration authorities began aggressively | | | | terrorism, and black markets in Latin America since |
| targeting illegal immigrants within the U.S. prison | | | | 1999. |
| system in 1996. Many prisoners were deported back | | | | |