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