Latin American Gangs Are Taking Over Our Streets
By Dave Gibson (07/10/08)
At one time, violent crimes attributed to Mexican and Central American gangs were largely confined to the American Southwest. However, just as illegal aliens have spread across this country, so too has a veritable crime wave. Large cities and small towns across the country are now experiencing the early stages of the most violent gang epidemic we have ever seen.
One of the most violent gangs is known as MS-13 The gang perpetuating the death and destruction is known as MS-13. Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13 is based in El Salvador.
According to the FBI's National Gang Task Force Director Robert Clifford, MS-13 is following the same paths as do Mexican illegal workers. Clifford said: "The migrant moves and the gang follows. If you follow the construction trade, that is where a lot of these immigrants go."
A March 2005 nation-wide sting operation which targeted members of the notoriously violent MS-13, nabbed 103 gang members. All 103 were in this country illegally. The arrests were made in Baltimore, New York, Newark, Dallas, Los Angeles, as well as the District of Columbia. The arrests made clear the fact that illegal immigration is no longer simply a regional crisis.
In 2005, two MS-13 members were convicted in an Alexandria, Va. United States District Court for killing a 17-year-old pregnant girl. A rope was placed around the neck of Brenda Paz, she was then stabbed repeatedly. Her body was then left along the muddy banks of Virginia’s Shenandoah River. The murder was retribution for the girl’s cooperation with a federal investigation into the gang’s activities.
The FBI now estimates that there are between 8,000 to 10,000 MS-13 gang members inside the United States. The Salvadoran gang is infamous for machete and grenade attacks. They have also been known to behead their enemies.
On January 3, 2008, police in Fort Worth, TX arrested several members of the Latino gang known as Varrio Central for forcing young girls into prostitution. Some of the girls being victimized were as young as 12 years old.
Diego Rodriguez, 19, and Martin Reyes, 17, with aggravated kidnapping, trafficking of a person, and engaging in organized criminal activity. The names of three minors arrested were not released
Varrio Central members would typically befriend the girls, get them high, and then take them to their regular customers. They would also drive them through apartment complexes, approaching men with the offer of sex with a teenaged or pre-teen girl for a fee of $50.
According to Fort Worth Police, if a girl refused to comply, gang members would beat and sexually assault her and threaten her family with violence.
Fort Worth Police Lt. Ken Dean told the Associated Press: “The age of the victims and suspects is the surprising part of it. To have such young individuals in a somewhat organized business, a forced prostitution ring, is somewhat alarming and such a horrendous crime against the 12 to 16 year old girls.”
As I stated earlier, Latin American gang activity is no longer isolated to large cities. A look at one relatively small city reveals the severity of the problem.
According to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the city of Porterville located in central California has a population of 51,467. While reporting a rather modest population, Porterville police report the existence of no less than 23 active gangs in the city.
The known gangs in Porterville, CA are as follows:
-Brown Pride Surenos
-Barrio Sur Trece
-Court Stret Locos
-Mexican Gang Bangers
-North Side Varrio Boys
-Tierras-Terra Bella
-Tiny Maltido Surenos
-Varrio Central Poros
-Wicked Ass Surenos
-Young Mexican Gang Bangers
-Barrio “H” street
-Big Time Locos
-North Side Varrio Youngsters
-Sultra 14
-Varrio Campo Linnel
-West Side Poros
-Catela Norte
-East Side Poros
-East Side Varrio
-Sureno Life Style
-Richgrove Varrio Trece
The U.S. Justice Department now believes that many gangs never before associated with traditional Mexican gangs are now distributing drugs on behalf of Mexican drug cartels. These gangs include the Bloods, Crips, and even many Asian and white supremacist gangs.
The National Drug Intelligence Center recently reported that Mexican gangs now have drug distribution operations in North Carolina as well as Georgia to support drug sales along the East Coast.
In addition to the sale of illegal drugs, prostitution, assault, rape, and robbery, Latin American gangs are now apparently acting as paid assassins, with the target being U.S. law enforcement.
In 2007, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reported that they had obtained a confidential Department of Homeland Security memo. The function of the document was to issue an Officer Safety alert to U.S. Border Patrol agents that human smugglers were bringing MS-13 gang members into the country for the sole purpose of murdering the agents.
The alert reads: “Unidentified Mexican alien smugglers are angry about the increased security along the U.S./Mexican border and have agreed that the best way to deal with U.S. Border Patrol agents is to hire a group of contract killers.”
A Border Patrol agent speaking on the condition of anonymity said: “It’s not just people coming over here to pick lettuce. These gang members, criminals, are endangering American lives.” He went on: “Our vests won’t stop a rifle bullet, and many of us feel like sitting ducks.”
A few facts concerning the impact of illegal immigration on crime in this country:
-In 1995, a California Department of Justice study concluded that the 18th Street Gang works directly with the Mexican Mafia, and commits a robbery or an assault every day in Los Angeles alone.
-Two-thirds of fugitive felony warrants issued in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
-95 percent of warrants issued for murder in L.A. are for illegal aliens.
-83 percent of warrants issued for murder in Phoenix, AZ are for illegal aliens.
-86 percent of warrants issued for murder in Albuquerque, NM are for illegal aliens.
-53 percent of burglaries in Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas are committed by illegal aliens.
-According to police, there are at least 53,000 Latino gang members in Los Angeles (that is the equivalent of three Airborne divisions).
-Mexican drug cartels produce 80 percent of the methamphetamine sold on U.S. streets.
-In 2007 alone, U.S. Customs agents confiscated over 2,000 lbs of methamphetamine at the six official border crossing stations in California.
Latin American gangs are just another reason to vigorously defend our all too porous border. If our government does not soon become serious about border enforcement, we can expect our nation's streets to run red with blood.
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