MS-13: A Transnational Threat Movies

MS-13: A Transnational Threat

Movies like The Godfather have long memorialized and romanticized the concept of the mafia, despite the fact that this gang was one of the most dangerous and far-reaching in the United States. If one were to read the FBI files on the mafia, one could quickly realize that the people described within them were not loveable or endearing characters in movies, but instead are dangerous criminals who committed extortion, torture, and murder. When the comparison between the mafia and the MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha 13, gang is drawn, then, it is not to soften the gang in anyway. Instead, the simile, which Flores and Romano (2005) employ in their article "The Most Dangerous Gang in America," is used to show how serious the problem of the MS-13 gang really is. Of course, it would be difficult not to take seriously a group who had killed and maimed their victims through beheading and the removal of limbs (Romano and Flores, 2005). In light of this information, it is clear that the MS-13 gang, a Latin American gang making its way into the United States, is quite dangerous, quite possibly "the most dangerous gang [or terrorist organization] in America" (Romano and Flores, 2005). In an exploration of the MS-13 gang's characterizations and origins, as well as a consideration of the methods that can be used to deter them, one can better consider the danger that this organization may pose for the U.S.

I. MS-13 History And Origins

A product of Central America, the MS-13 gang is "considered the fastest-growing, most violent and least understood of the nation's street gangs" (Romano and Flores, 2005, para. 3). The gang is certainly wide reaching, with over 700,000 members total and 8,000-10,000 members in 33 U.S. states. It is composed of "mostly Salvadorans and other Central Americans," and entered the United States with a bang -- literally. Although this is a Hispanic gang, its origins are in Los Angeles, where young Salvadorans who were already scarred by the violence of civil war were taking refuge. Thus, psychological factors play heavily on the formation of this gang. As the young Salvadoran refuges who had seen so much violence in their short years came into the United States, Mexican gangs were ready for them -- subjecting them to gang coercion and violence. The Salvadorans did what any group that was being persecuted so summarily would do -- they came together to form their own protection agency made up of Salvadoran "salvatruchas," or "street-tough Salvadorans. What started out as a gang for their own protection soon grew into something more diabolical. MS-13 members got weapons and learned how to use them, and began to make money through a host of illicit activity, including extortion and narcotics sales (Romano and Flores, 2005, para. 4). In fact, 22 MS-13 members indicted in 2008 were charged with criminal activities as diverse as "murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, narcotics trafficking, and the interstate transportation of stolen vehicles" (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 2008).

MS-13 continues to grow as immigrants from Central America enter the United States through a variety of means, and because these immigrants can settle anywhere they choose, the chapters of the gang can be located nearly anywhere (Romano and Flores, 2005, para. 5). Those MS-13 members who were deported because of gang activity have created "outposts" in Central American countries, so the gang can continue to spread throughout the Americas (Romano and Flores, 2005, para. 4). In fact, "Some analysts assert that increasing U.S. deportations of individuals with criminal records to Central American countries may be contributing to the gang problem" (U.S. Congressional Research Service, 2008). A hodge-podge gang thrown together because of violence that eventually adopted its abusers criminal practices, MS-13 has never been the most organized of gangs. This may be where the comparison to the traditional mafia stops and where further danger begins. As it is so unorganized, it is difficult for law enforcement officials to keep track of the gang the way they might with a more focused organization (Romero and Flores, 2005, para. 5). In addition, because of this disorganization, MS-13 methods in different areas of the United States (Romero and Flores, 2005, para. 5), making it more difficult to determine whether MS-13 or another gang is responsible for an incident. The fact that MS-13 is making an attempt to become more organized does not make them any easier to follow. Romero and Flores (2005) state that the gang's attempt to organize in the United States would model the organization of MS-13 in El Salvador, where "the gang is 'highly organized and disciplines,'" and where "criminal operations are all the more efficient and pervasive" (para. 6).

II. MS-13: Primary Threats

While the fact that their organizational structure may be growing is certainly cause for concern, it is important to discuss the threats posed by MS-13. Although many of these threats are identical to threats posed by other famous gangs that still run the drug trafficking rings and organized crime circuits in other geographical areas, MS-13 poses a more significant threat for a variety of reasons. The first reason is violence. When the gang began to emerge around 2005, both residents of the United States and Central America were awed by how violent the gang really was. Traditionally, "the largest and most violent gangs in [Latin America] operate in Central America and Mexico" (Congressional Research Service, 2005, para. 2). Thus, they are both dangerously close to the United States and could pose a serious threat to [Central America and Mexico's] stability" (Congressional Research Service, 2005, para. 2). The reason why this danger is so threatening is extreme violence that these gangs use. They kill with guns and machetes, and were responsible for a beheading and the mutilation of a man's hand in two famous cases in the United States (Flores and Romano, 2005, para. 1). Because the killing of rival gang members is a necessity of membership in the gang, the fact that MS-13's rival, the 18th Street Gang, is prevalent in many of the same areas as MS-13 leads to even more violence, including murder (Department of Justice, 2009). Like other gangs, MS-13 also seems to engage in random gang violence and charge local business fees for a sort of gang insurance, protecting them from further harm. This was certainly the case in January, when an MS-13 member robbed a beauty salon, sexually abused the owner, said she would be required to pay him for "protection" in the future, and took her picture in an effort to persuade her not to go to police. Houston officials called the crime "not unusual" for the area, but because the particular victim did go to the police, seven arrests were made (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2009). What this suggests is that MS-13 gang members are a threat in American communities, are willing to go to great lengths in order to accomplish their goals, and are still engaged in extreme violence.

In areas where these gangs have their origins, such as Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, the world's highest murder rates and extreme gang activity can be witnessed. With murder rates above 45.9 per 100,000 people in Honduras and 41.2 in El Salvador, officials believe a majority of these murders are related to gang violence (Congressional Research Service, 2004, para. 2). Thus, the violence associated with the gang is no small matter. Once again, the psychology of the issue can be considered. Coming from violent backgrounds, one might expect MS-13 members to be associated with violence. Still, the extreme danger that they pose to both U.S. And Central American peace cannot be underestimated.

While violence is a major issue associated with this gang, however, one of the more pressing threats is the transnational nature of the gang. The 2007 Congressional Research Report lists several reasons why both the MS-13 gang and the 18th street gang have raised concerns for legislators attempting to deal with the problem. These are:

(1) membership in these gangs has spread from the Los Angeles area to other communities across the United States; (2) these gangs are becoming "transnational," primarily because MS-13 and M-18 cliques are being established in Central America

and Mexico; (3) evidence suggests that these gangs are engaged in criminal

enterprises normally associated with better organized and more sophisticated crime syndicates; and (4) MS-13 and M-18 gang members may be involved in smuggling

operations and, by extension, could potentially use their skills and criminal networks to smuggle terrorists into the United States. To date, however, no evidence exists establishing a link between MS-13 and M-18 members and terrorists (Congressional Research Service, 2007, pg. 1).

Thus, it is easy to see why the transnational nature of these gangs is becoming a concern of such importance within the United States. If the gangs continue to organize to the point where they are able to commit crimes in an organized way reminiscent of the mafia, then they could compromise security issues between the U.S.-Mexico boarder. Not only this, but the strengthening of the drug trade, as well as the potential for human trafficking and the smuggling of terrorists poses a potential catastrophe for the United States. While the U.S.-Mexico boarder has always been an area of contention among policy makers, the MS-13 gang makes the argument less about social policy and the future of immigration, but about criminal activity and the safety of citizens. If the gang is able to successfully organize, a network of criminals stretching between some of the world's most dangerous regions and the United States will have been established, allowing for the potential crumbling of the United States from within. At this point, the criminals would not even need to cross the boarder to communicate, as they could engage in communication through electronic means or word-of-mouth without even risking an attempt to cross the boarder. A second terrorist attack as monumental as the 9/11 attacks could occur through the use of the criminal network that MS-13 could establish.

III. Implications for Law Enforcement And Counter-Terrorism

What is most ironic about the significance of the MS-13 gang and its implications for terrorism is the fact that the gang was ignored at first because of a focus on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks. After the attacks, the FBI say "a definite shift in resources," resources that were shifted away from attempts to round-up MS-13 gang members (Flores and Romano, 2005, para. 4). But law enforcement officials would soon learn the important links between MS-13 and terrorism, turning the quest to stop the gang into an act of local and national protection. After the reallocation of resources, the FBI managed to find funds from other sources in order to counter the gangs, and the result has been rather positive (Flores and Romano, 2005, para. 4). The news is littered with stories of law enforcement agencies capturing MS-13 members. Most encouraging are those arrests that occur near the U.S.-Mexico boarder, suggesting that law enforcement officials are stopping MS-13 at the source. In fact, just a few days ago a boarder patrol agent arrested an MS-13 gang member near the Arizona boarder. The member had come to the United States illegally (U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection, 2009).