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MILNET Brief
  Hispanic Gangs, 3/17/2005, Updated 02/28/2008

Updates

Basics of Latino Gangs   Sanctuary The Gangs U.S. Immigration Law

On March 15, 2005, the Department of Homeland Security finally made headlines by highlighting the  national epidemic of illegal aliens found in Latino gangs.  Unfortunately, the story isn't making a very big splash and the problem worsens.  The case in question  is the nationwide arrest and detainment of some 100 illegal aliens who are mexican national members of the Mara Salvaturcha or MS-13, a gang that had its start as El Salvodorian prison inmates.  Some of those arrested are repeat "returnees" -- illegals who have more than once been deported and then illegally crossed into the U.S. once again. 1 The case clearly spells out the ease in which illegals can routinely cross into the U.S.  Moreover, it points out that if a deportee can recross easily, there is literally nothing to stop an international terrorist.

Combined with a clearly insane political correctness displayed by some cities in the U.S., the problem is nearing the point of pitting cities against the U.S. government.  Make no mistake, this is the largest threat to you and your family in this country, outweighing every terrorist organization's threat, including Al-Qaeda, yet virtually nothing is being done about it.  Even a very well laid out and logical plea from researcher Heather MacDonald in 2004 has not seemed to attract the attention of politicos, and the latest events culminate decades of suicidal behavior of our politicians.  It is time to put an end to this insanity, and it appears our politicians are not hearing from their constituents on the subject, or worse, are ignoring the problem despite the will of the American People.

This report will detail the governmental conflict, as well as describe the major gangs involved.  We should note from the onset that we are focusing on Mexican National (Latino or Hispanic)  gangs for a reason.  Intelligence contacts are concerned that due to the porous U.S.-Mexican border, that the Mexican gangs already have high numbers of illegal aliens as members in their organizations.  Thus, any terrorist group could choose to infiltrate the Latin American gangs prior to making the crossing into the U.S. and find themselves with a wide support network in any number of states once inside the U.S.  (see the November 2007 article 26 on such a plot in the Washington Times).

This is a clear and present danger to U.S. National Security, and only recently has the Department of Homeland Security publicly acknowledged their participation in the nationwide focus by law enforcement. 1

There are also a  number of White Supremacist gangs who have climbed to major prominence and can be found in MILNET's Domestic Terrorism Profiles.  These gangs rarely recruit from outside the U.S., and thus do not fall within scope of this report.  Similarly, there have been African American gangs in prisons which have produced street gangs when those prisoners have been released.
Earn Your Degree Online

Finally, one of the major impacts of Latino gangs is on the youth in the poorer sections of the cities in which they prey.  That topic, however, is also out of the scope of this report, which will focus on the national security issues.


Basics of Latino Gangs

Some of the Latino gangs go back to the time of the Alamo, having been started as loose associations of immigrants who felt that after the annexation of Texas, they did not belong in the U.S..  This was due to racial prejudice and the treatment they received in the U.S. and the fact they had suddenly become U.S. citizens and could not cross back into Mexico.  Over time, these "clubs" became the families for many immigrants and illegals crossing into the U.S. 

A criminal element asserted itself rather early on, and thus today's Latino Gangs are notorious for major crimes in the cities in which they prey, forcing most police departments to establish major gang units who deal primarily with just the hispanic gang elements. Most of these gang units are only fairly effective, since they face a local populace that serves to shelter and support their racial "brothers", as well as liberal activists who focus on the plight of the poor and the innocents in those racial societies.  More on that later.

The links between the criminals and the gangs are of paramount interest.  The gang members, acting as a criminal enterprise, will invariably wind up in a prison cell.  Indeed several of the more notorious street gangs actually had their start in prisons and today maintain operations in prison as prison gangs. 

For example, the Norteños were formed in Folsom prison in California in 1968.  The prison gang was essentially a group of criminals serving time in that institution, comprised of Latinos from northern California (defined as north of Bakersfield, California).  The gang members tattooed themselves with the number 14 (N is the fourteenth letter of the alphabet) or "Norte"  (North in Spanish), Nuetstra (for Nuestra Famila - the Northern Family).  And of course, this led to rivals in prison from southern California (Sureños). 

Today, nearly every major Latino gang has a prison "chapter" and manages to communicate as if the incarcerated were simply off on holiday.  The groups use tattoos and graffiti to identify themselves and their territory.  All use criminal activities to provide funds and to prey upon their neighborhoods and rival gangs.  And there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that multi-state latino gangs recruit and maintain large numbers of illegal aliens, upwards past 65%.



Sanctuary

For decades, some churches and supporters have tried to provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants, realizing and sympathizing with the plight of some immigrants into the U.S.  Unable or unwilling to distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants, many of these institutions have found themselves on the wrong side of the law with the obvious results.   Many have now become hubs for a kind of underground railroad for illegal immigrants, and as such, they also became criminal enterprises that aid and abett highly violent criminals who also happen to be illegal aliens.

This state of affairs has become a serious problem.  Liberal minded city governments in the U.S. have written laws contrary to federal law, preventing local law enforcement and even court systems from using immigration status in their work.  In Los Angeles, for instance, Special Order 40 (enacted in 1979) prevents officers and local court officials from asking about immigration status of a suspect.  If an officer spots someone that they know has been recently deported, they are prohibited by this regulation to question or arrest the suspect.  And the officer is prohibited from notifying the federal agency tasked with detaining and deporting illegal aliens, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE - formerly the INS). All of this is in direct conflict with the Immigration Reform Act of 1996 which specifically prohibits any city or state government from interfering in the illegal immigration enforcement process.

In what many would call insanity, there have been no cases so far where the U.S. Government has challenged the local regulations.  L.A. is of course not the only city.  For instance, in "May 2004, Atlanta Gerogia's Mayor Shirley Franklin approved an agreement with the government of Mexico that recognizes the Mexican Consulate-issued Matricula Consular ID as valid for city business and services" 3

Of course the cities pay for their ignorance and liberal insanity.  "Manhattan Institute fellow Heather MacDonald reports that in Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide are for illegal aliens and as of January 2004, there were more than 1,200 such warrants.".. 3

The problems in these sanctuary cities is worming its way into federal government.  The U.S. Senator from Georgia Sam Zamarripa (D-DeKalb) calls illegal aliens "immigrants with incomplete documentation", the ultimate politically correct description of illegal aliens. . 3

The Marietta Journal (Atlanta, Georgia) states, "In December, Congress quietly failed to provide funding for the border security provisions it approved in the Intelligence Bill.  It further refused to keep the strongest recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that would have aided in U.S. interior security by standardizing driver's licenses and adapting more efficient deportation procedures"  . 3 

Several states have enacted laws that allow illegal aliens to apply for and received driver's licenses, a key identity document that can then be used to get other services and other forms of identification including, as the 9/11 terrorists did, operate right in plain sight while the system gives them anonimity and identity required for travel and making purchases of goods used in their plots.

Cities that participate in sanctuary policies rank amongst the highest with illegal immigrant crime, jail and prison populations.  These are Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; New York City, N.Y., San Francisco, California; and Washington, D.C.  There may be others, the trend seems to be an epidemic, one which promises death and destruction in every city that sanctuary is provided.



The Gangs

Least the reader think that the issue is some bit of right wing fantasy, here is a list of the prevalent gangs and the states in which they operate.  Note that most states have at least three major cities or regions inflicted with the gangs listed for that state.  We should also note that large metropolitan cities (for example New York, N.Y.) serve as a hub of activity, but inevitably serve to spread the problem outward in a larger region, sometimes in multiple counties around that hub.


Hispanic Gangs

Abbr
 Full Name
 Description
 States with major activity
18
 18th Street Gang
 Formed in the 1960s in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, thought to be one of the most violent street gangs in the country.  Members are tattooed with  XVIII or 666 (when added up becomes 18).  Heavily populated with illegal immigrants from south of the U.S.-Mexican border, the gang also includes Asians, African and Native Americans, as well as Whites.  Some chapters are very well organized  They are reputed to be well linked with Mexican and Colombian drug cartels. According to Border Control.ORG, "In 1995, a report showed that 60 percent of the 20,000-strong 18th Street Gang in Southern California included illegal aliens" 9 Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants.  The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary policies in many of the cities in which they prey. 
California, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington,
Norte
 La Nuestra Famila
 Established in  1960s at Soledad Prison, to protect inmates from the Mexican Mafia, a  prison gang of mostly southern Californians.  As the original members were released from prison, they began recruiting members into their street gangs.  Due to the rivalry with the Mexican Mafia, there may be a link to or this is just another name for Nuestra Familia or the Norteños California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey,  New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
LK
 Latin Kings The Almighty Latin Kings (and Queens) - Puerta Rican Immigrants, formed in 1940s.  Today is one of the largest latino gangs and is found  in most major cities of the states listed, coast to coast, north and south.  Today the population is mostly Mexican, however, the spectrum includes Spanish, Caribbean, Latvian, Italian, Portuguese, or  South American.  1980's, Felix Millet and Nelson Millan, two inmates in the Connecticut prison system, created the Almighty Latin King Nation of Connecticut. In 1986, Luis Felipe, calling himself King Blood, took the Connecticut King Manifesto and added a few of his own writings and prayers. He formed the Almighty Latin King Nation of New York State at the Collins Correctional Institution. He was serving a lengthy sentence for attempting to kill his live-in girlfriend. Within a few years, the Latin Kings spread through the New York State Prison system and onto the streets. New York City, by the early 1990's had several hundred members which grew into the thousands throughout New York State and nearby New Jersey by the mid 1990's.  Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants.  The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary policies in many of the cities in which they prey. Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware,  Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin,
Solido
 Los Solidos Nation
 A merger of the Ghetto Brothers and Savage Nomads in Hartford, Connecticut, now calling each other Solido (Famly).  Active in Hartford, New London, East Lyme, Norwich, New Britain and Waterbury, but have also spread to other states as members have fled from RICO investigations
 Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
MS-13
 Mara  Salvatrucha Family of Salvador - Associated with the southern "families" of Mexican National Gangs, the 13th letter is M and the S in MS-13 also stands for Sur or Sureno ("South"), with original links to El Salvadorian  nationals who eventually crossed illegally into the U.S. across the U.S. Mexican Border.  Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants.  The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary  policies in many of the cities in which they prey.
 Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia,  Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington,
Netas
 Netas
 Puerta Rican group established in a Puerta Rican prison by Carlos Torres-Irriarte.  An early rival of the Netas was Grupo 27 (Group 27) which eventually was blamed for Torres' murder in prison.  By 1993, many chapters had merged into the Latin Kings (See Above)
 Connecticut, New Jersey, New York
NF
 		Norteños Northerners - Organized in Folsom Prison in 1968, later became a loose organization  of north and south memberships -- i.e if you lied north of Bakersfield you were a northerner and when you went to prison you would join the northern prison  gang, if you lived south of Bakersfield you were a Sureno, a southerner and that would be the prison gang you joined when you went to prison. Notice the inevitability of going to prison, these are not garden clubs.  The Nortenos associate themselves with the number 14  (the letter N is the 14th letter), 4 dots in a tattoo,  and will invariably call themselves a family ("Nuestra Familia" or La Nuestra Familia).  Today the group has a wide latino population, and retains a high percentage of illegal immigrants.  The actual numbers of illegals is not known, however, due to sanctuary  policies in many of the cities in which they prey.
 		Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington,
MM
 		Sureños Southerners -  Also known as the Mexican Mafia.  Formed by Rodolpho Cadena and  Joe Morgan in the correctional  facility at Tracy, California.  They prison gang became the most powerful in the prison system and as members were released from prison they began to recruit in their home locals. When prisoners who were members of the Mexican Mafia were released they formed the Surenos gangs on the outside.   Chief Rivals are the La Nuestra Familia (Northern Familes).  Today the street gangs "graduate" to prison and become members of the Mexican Mafia.  The Surenos control much of the illegal prison activities in the prison systems of nearly every state in the union.  The members may be found wearing a  MM tattoo or SUR for Surenos.  They also may refer to other chapters as being part of Le Eme (The M).  In the last few decades, conflicts with Black prison gangs has led to a loose alliance (for mutual protection) with  such unusual partner as the Aryan Brotherhood a white supremacist prison gang  and domestic terror group.
 		Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington
TS
 		Texas Syndicate
 		Originated in the early 1970s at Folsom Prison in California, mainly to protect members against non-native Texan prisoners who were preying upon them. Includes members from all over Latin America with largest populations in prison being Mexican, Colombian, and  Cuban.
 		California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Washington
Note:  Sources for information in this table are found in the sources section below, numbers 4, 5, 6


U.S. Immigration Law

The U.S. immigration laws require deportation of an illegal alien if the alien:
  1. has  been convicted of an aggravated felony
  2. has not resided in the United States for a contiguous period of seven years
  3. was not a lawful permanent resident for a contiguous period of five years
  4. would not have been admissible to the United States on security grounds

This applies to the majority of illegal aliens found in gangs.  In order to prove evidence of residence lawfully, they would need to show a visa or other federal document allowing their entry into the United States or an approved application for permanent residence in the United States.  Few if any illegal aliens have such documents and only a handful of gang members.

Section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, USC 1324 states:

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

City Sanctuary regulations circumvent the law by adopting a don't ask, don't tell policy.  In these cities where regulations do not allow a police officer to question a person who he or she suspects is an illegal alien due to probable cause (as in was witness to a previous arrest and subsequent disclosure of illegal alien status or deportation) has placed the officer in violation of Federal Law, and thus that city regulation conflicts with U.S. Immigration law. 

It is the responsibility of the U.S. Attorney General, when notified of an entity acting in contravention of U.S. law, to investigate and if necessary bring such organizations before a federal grand jury for possible indictment.  Failure of the U.S. Attorney General to do so, is in of itself, a felony.

It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any alien who is in the United States in violation of law. HARBORING MEANS ANY CONDUCT THAT TENDS TO SUBSTANTIALLY FACILITATE AN ALIEN TO REMAIN IN THE U.S. ILLEGALLY. The sheltering need not be clandestine, and harboring covers aliens arrested outdoors, as well as in a building. This provision includes harboring an alien who entered the U.S. legally but has since lost his legal status.

Any City ordnance, regulation or policy which prohibits officers of a court or law enforcement to inquire as to a persons immigration status clearly conceals and attempts to harbor or shield detection of an illegal alien.  Moreover, by allowing that alien to move about freely without questioning, substantially facilitates an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally.

It is the responsibility of the U.S. Attorney General to investigate claims of entities that substantially facilitate an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally, and to turn over such evidence as may be gathered to a grand jury for possible indictment.  Again,  Failure of the AG to pursue sancturary city policies is, in-of-itself, a felony.

Public disclosure of the sanctuary policies of Los Angeles, California and New York City, New York by Heather MacDonald in The Illegal Alien Crime Wave, City Journal, Front Page Magazine, 2/14/2004 as well as notation of possible others in Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; Houston, Texas;and  Chicago, Illinois should have prompted investigations into the legality of those regulations in those cities.  Failure to conduct such investigations by the U.S. Attornies Office, once informed of the possible federal statutes being flaunted in those states is also a felony.

Failure to investigate for personal gain, especially political gain is reprehensible, immoral, and cowardly.  In our opinion, failure to federally prosecute or for that matter for the state to fail to prosecute a city for regulations that  substantially facilitate an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally is a felonious offense in state laws for the states in question.  It is therefore incumbent upon the U.S. Attorney to investigate State's Attorneys General who have failed to investigate and prosecute cities that substantially facilitate an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally.

"RICO" -- A Citizen Recourse

Private persons and entities may initiate civil suits to obtain injunctions and treble damages against enterprises that conspire to or actually violate federal alien smuggling, harboring, or document fraud statutes, under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). The pattern of racketeering activity is defined as commission of two or more of the listed crimes. A RICO enterprise can be any individual legal entity, or a group of individuals who are not a legal entity but are associated in fact, AND CAN INCLUDE NONPROFIT ASSOCIATIONS." 13

Concerned citizens could, if they desired, could bring civil suits to force their government to enforce the immigration laws, yet, so far, little if any such actions has taken place. 


Conclusions

It is our opinion that the U.S. Justice Department, for political reasons, under both the Clinton and Bush administrations, has failed to do its duty to protect the citizens of the United States by ignoring U.S. Immigration law, specifically by not investigating and prosecuting persons and organizations known to substantially and systematically facilitate an alien or aliens to remain in the U.S. illegally. 


10/23/2006:  Analysis of the "A Line in the Sand" report from the House Committee on Homeland Security, has produced the following MILNET Summary (see the details following the summary or read the report or yourself):

Summary:
  1. Border officals estimate 4-10 million illegals crossing into U.S. every year despite apprehension of up to 1.2 million.
  2. Mexican Drug Cartels, dealing in drugs produced in Mexico, Central and South America now control major areas of the Southern border, especially along Texas border.
  3. Drug Cartels require fees from human smugglers and and are slowly moving into that business as well.
  4. Drug Cartels hire their own armies from Mexican or Central/South American special forces or law enforcement.
  5. Drug Cartels use hispanic street gangs who recruit from Mexico, Central, or South America, move members across the border and into cities across the U.S. (28 states report these gang activities)
  6. Two major gangs on Mexico side are Los Zetas (working for Gulf Cartel) and Los Negros.
  7. Street Gangs in U.S. include (but not limited to) MS-13, Latin Kings, Texas Syndicate, Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos (Brotherhood of Latin Gunmen) who also work for Gulf Cartel.
  8. Foreign national gang members find it easy to move back and forth across the border, making use of immigration laws that fly them back to their country of origin when caught, then return back across the border to U.S.
  9. Mexican side controlled -- including some towns by Cartels or their gangs (i.e. Zetas and Neuvo Lorado) and fire on Border Patrol and other law enforcement officials from across the border.
  10. There has been at least one attempt at an armed incursion into the U.S. by paramilitary group.
  11. Trains transport illegal aliens from Central/South America up through Mexico, loaded with aliens "hanging on to sides', on their way through three corridors into U.S. via Texas.

Details:

The following critical items dealing with the Hispanic Gang crisis were gleaned from the report:
  1. In 2005 Border Patrol apprehended approximately 1.2 million illegal aliens
  2. Federal Law enforcement estimates that 10 to 30 percent of aliens are actually apprehended.  Therefore in 2005 as many as 4 to 10 million illegal aliens may have crossed into the United states.
Findings by the Subcommittee:
  1. Not all illegal aliens are crossing into the United States to work.  Law Enforcement has stated that some individuals come across the border because they have been forced to leave their home countries due to their criminal activity...and seeking refuge in the United States.
  2. Human smugglers coordinate with drug cartels, paying a few to use the cartel's safe smuggling routes into the United States.  There also indications the cartels may be moving to diversify their criminal activities to include the increasingly lucrative human smuggling trade.
  3. The cartels use street and prison gangs located in the United States as their distribution networks.  In the United States the gang members operate as surrogates and enforcers for the cartels.
  4. This new generation of sophisticated and violent cartels, along the Southwest border, is presenting significant challenges to U.S. law enforcement.  These criminal syndicates have unlimited money to by the most advanced weapons and technology available.
Incursion into the U.S.
  1. The Subcommittee convened to examine a particularly troubling incursion into the sovereign territory of the United States on January 23, 2006,  by armed individuals who were driving military style vehicles, carrying military type weapons, and appeared to be wearing Mexican Army uniforms. 

  1. Gangs including the Latin Kings and Mara Salvatrucha buy methamephetamine from Mexican drug cartels for distribution in the southwestern United States.
  2. The DEA reports that the Mexican drug syndicates operating today along our Nation's Southwest border are far more sophisticated and dangerous than any of the other organized crime groups in America's law enforcement history.  Indeed, these powerful drug cartels, and the human smuggling networks and gangs they leverage, have immense control over the routes into the United States and continue to pose formidable challenges to our efforts to secure the Southwest border.
Massive Train Route
  1. Trains, usually 90 to 160 cars in length, traveling from Central America through Mexico to Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo, are one mode of transportation illegal aliens use to enter the United States.  Each year thousands of illegal aliens cling to the sides and tops of the rail cars for the journey to the north. 
 


 


Three Major Drug and Human Smuggling Corridors
  1. Three corridors exist...The El Paso-Juarez Corridor, the Alpine Area encompasses the Big Bend corridor leading in from Northeast Mexico, and the Larado Porto of Entry moves 6,000 commercial vehicles making it ideal for the illicit drug and human smuggling trade.



















MILNET Diagram Summarizing just two smuggling operations in the three corridors into Texas

Extremely Violent Border Gangs
  1. Several rival segments of the cartels have been involved in violent efforts to control Nuevo-Larado, the Mexican side of the Laredo Corridor.
  2. Mexican drug cartels maintain highly developed intelligence networks on both sides of border and have hired private armies to carry out enforcement measures.  For instance one cartel member employs former elite military soldiers known as "Los Zetas".  The Zetas operate as  a "private army under the orders of the Gulf Cartel, the first time a drug lord has had his own paramilitary."  The Zetas' activities are not limited to defending the Gulf Cartel's terrain in Northern Mexico.  The paramilitary force is also believed to control trafficking routes along the eastern half of the U.S.-Mexico border.  The Zetas are well-financed and well-equipped and have demonstrated a willingness to shoot, torture, and kill law enforcement officers.  Federal law enforcement officials deem the Zetas among the most dangerous criminal enterprises in the Americas.  Reports indicate the Zetas are comprised of former members (or perhaps active) members of the Mexican military's Special Forces, and now include Federal, State, and local law enforcement personal and civilians, and according to U.S. intelligence officials, Zetas are recruiting former Guatemalan Special Forces and members of the notorious Maras (such as Mara Salvatruchas (MS-13).
  3. Decapitations are becoming quite common in many areas in Mexico where cartels and gangs battle for control over lucrative smuggling corridors.  Heads are publicly displayed for the purpose of intimidation.
  4. Another method is guisoe, placing a target person in a 55 gallon drum and pouring various flammable liquids over them and lighting it on fire.  The use of igniting a tire placed around the target person is also being used.
Dangers to Law Enforcement Officials on Both Sides of the Border
  1. Just six hours after newly sworn in Nuevo Laredo's Police was shot more than 50 times after he had announced a crackdown on cartels.
  2. Three top law enforcement officials, two police chiefs and a top crime investigator were killed in the Mexican state of Neuvo Leon, which shares a border with Texas.  The murders also include six journalists covering drug trafficking
  3. From 2004 to 2005, violent incidents against Border Patrol agents on the Southwest border have increased 108%.  In FY 2006 there have been 746 violent incidents, including some 435 serious attacks with rocks, 173 hand-to-hand assaults, 43 vehicle assaults, and 43 firearm assaults.
A Lucrative Business
  1. Human smuggling networks that operate along the Southwest border cannot move their human cargo through the drug cartel controlled corridors without paying a fee ($1,200 to $2,500).  Foreign nationals (non-Mexican would-be illegals) may pay between $45,000 to $60,000 per person.  This puts billions of dollars into the hands of criminals each year.
  2. Thus there are tremendous incentives for drug cartels to diversify their criminal enterprise to include the human smuggling trade...and drugs do not hide themselves as humans do, perhaps lowering the risks.
  3. Human smugglers are routinely released and sent back to Mexico...few are imprisoned.
  4. Cartels also use human smuggling as a diversion, pulling attention away from where they are crossing drugs.
  5. Mexican drug cartels have increasingly "cemented" ties to street and prison gangs on the U.S. side.  MS-13 is one such gang involved in the cross-border smuggling business.  Law enforcement agencies in 28 states have reported MS-13 members are engaged in retail drug trafficking.
  6. Some are caught...for instance 12 gang members were indicted on 17 counts of illegal drug and firearm offenses.  All 12 are believed to be members or associated with Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos (Brotherhood of Latin Gunmen) -- a prison gang -- and working for the same Gulf Cartel as the Zetas.
  7. A growing number of gangs are collaborating with major drug cartels to facilitate cross-border smuggling of not only drugs, but also humans.  These gangs include MS-13, Mexican Mafia, the the Texas Syndicate.
  8. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs with more than 800,000 members in the U.S.
  9. Many of these violent street gangs are actively involved in other crimes such as rape, robbery, and murder. 
  10. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has found that approximately half of the apprehended gang members have violent criminal histories.
  11. Approximately 90 percent of U.S. MS-13 members are foreign-born illegal aliens and depend upon the Texas-Mexico border smuggling corridor to support their criminal operations, and the foreign nationals that belong to these gangs regularly enter the United States illegally.  Some even turn themselves in to U.S. officials and are deported (flown home at U.S. expense) so they can visit in a Central or South American country, then recross into the U.S. after their vacation is over.
  12. Texas law enforcement authorities believe there may be a ten member Zeta assassination squad active inside Texas on behalf of the Gulf Cartel. 
  13. Zetas are also known to have established smuggling routes in U.S. residential neighborhoods in order smuggle high value illegal aliens.
Sophisticated Operations, Weapons, and Direct Confrontation
  1. A battle between a rival gang and the Zetas in September of 2006 lasted approximately 40 minutes and included bazookas and grenades.
  2. A rival of the Zetas is "Los Negros" is also a highly sophisticated paramilitary drug smuggling organization.
  3. FBI intelligence indicates that Los Zetas are involved in systematic corruption as well as alien smuggling, including smuggling of special interest aliens into the United States using an elaborate network of spies, checkpoints, and sophisticated technology -- using ties with gangs in Texas cities such as Houston and Dallas.
  4. Loads of both drugs and humans are vigorously protected by direct confrontation, high speed chases, and standoffs at the Rio Grande River.  U.S. Border Patrol agents are fired upon from across the river and troopers and sheriff's deputies are subject to attacks with automatic weapons.
  5. Tactics by the border gangs include spotters with high-powered binoculars and encrypted radios to guide smugglers past agents and law enforcement agencies. A congressional report describes the smugglers and the border patrol and ICE are in a technological arms race.  The Webb County Texas Sheriff indicates the gangs use rocket propelled grenades, automatic assault weapons, and "level four" body armor and Kevlar helmets similar to what the U.S. military uses. 
  6. The result is that underarmed departments on the U.S. side, in order to protect their officers, have ordered them to cease patrolling along the dangerous corridors.
  7. In January of 2006, ICE, ATF, and Laredo Texas PD seized two completed IEDs, materials to make 33 more, military style grenades, 26 grenade triggers, AK-47s and AR-15 assault rifles, 1,280 pounds of ammunition, silencers, machine gun assembly kits, 300 primers, bulletproof vests, police scanners, sniper scopes, narcotics and cash.  All in one cache.  The report shows a picture of a gang member captured and illustrates some of the cache, with one of the AR-15s already converted to full auto.
  8. The report gives a litany of attacks by gang members in U.S. cities, some far away from the border area.
  9. The  report illustrates the Vulnerability to Terrorist Infiltration as a result, see the MILNET report, Southern Border Security for more information on that aspect of the report.
Updates:

02/28/2008:  Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina: Serving a felony vehicle warrant , police arrested a man they suspected was an illegal immigrant member of the MS-13 gang from El Salvador.  Based on their information, the police issued a SWAT team callout, and were rewarded for their caution when the brother of the man they went to arrest fired upon them.  Immigration officials are now investigating as well.n  28

02/25/2008:  Columbus, Ohio:  David Henriques was apprehended in April of of 2007 after a chase during which he was observed tossing away a 9mm AB-10 weapon, and will be facing charges of murder and drugs.  He is the second MS-13 member to be grabbed in the Columbus area, Nelson Flores was arrested after a minor accident in January 2007. Flores was a previously deported MS-13 gang leader in the area and known as a particularly violent felon.  Coloumbus police say there are a dozen or so MS-13 gang members operating in and around Columbus.  30

2/21/2008:  San Diego, Texas:  Border patrol agents from the Freer, Texas border station arrested an admitted MS-13 gang member at a store in San Diego Texas.  33

01/29/2008:  Lynn, Massachusetts police arrested seven suspected MS-13 gang members on the grounds of a local playground for violation of a local ordnance intended to keep gangs from hanging out in local meeting areas.   Four of the arrested were charged locally with carrying a knife longer than 2.5 inches.  Two of them were subsequently turned over to ICE and are customs custody.  All admitted to being members of the MS-13 gang.  27

11/15/2007:  Los Angeles, California:  FBI's Task Force targets MS-13 gang, arresting 16 gang members on federal narcotics and immigration charges, including Oscar Chacon the top member of MS-13 in L.A.  Drug charges focused on sales of methamphetamine also known as "Speed", with Chacon facing a minimum of 10 years or up to live in prison  "The MS-13 gang is a significant threat to the public safety of all Angelenos. Law enforcement agencies must observe jurisdictional boundaries, but MS-13 gang members do not. MS-13 is a transnational gang with a strong presence in the United States and Central America This puts a premium on federal, state and local cooperation. Working together, we aim to eradicate the MS-13 gang." - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. 40

8/28/2007:  Boston, Massachusetts:  Federal Agents swept up violent gang members in raids in Chelsea, Somerville and East Boston in an operation called Operation 13, intended to pick up violent gang members including the notorious members of MS-13 in the area.  The Feds targeted some 50 people and arrested dozens in a combined operation of federal agencies that included the ATF, the Middlesex Sheriff's Department,  the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and local police departments.    41

10/21/2006:  Nationwide: A report released by the House Committee on Homeland Security dropped a bombshell on Homeland Security this month.  The report  confirms all that this MILNET briefing states with hard evidence of Latin American gangs crossing into the U.S.   Moreover, the report links border crossings with terrorist nations, organizations and Venezuelan efforts to provide the means to get false documentation in order to move terrorists across the U.S. border.  The report is a MUST READ.  25  The MILNET briefing, Southern Border Security, analyzes this and other government reports on the southern border.

9/22/2006:  Columbus, Ohio:  ICE and a Columbus Ohio task force (cooperative alliance between ICE as part of a nationwide initiative called the Operation Community Shield and the Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST)) arrested a career criminal illegal immigrant oin Dublin, Ohio, named Julio Ernesto Cobian-Ariaza, a citizen of Mexico.  Ariaza had been deported twice before back to Mexico and is currently under a Mexican arrest warrant.  He was deported first in May 1999 and then again in September of 2001.  He now faces 20 years in U.S. prison for illegal reentry to the U.S.  31

7/13/2006:  Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina:  Nine MS-13 gang members were Arrested after a convenience store robbery where store employees were bound with duct tape, Samson County Sheriff's office officials say the criminals may be linked to a murder that occurred earlier in Wallace, N.C.  35

6/14/2006:  Nationwide: Department of Homeland Security's ICE announced that in the period from 5/26/2006 to June 13, 2006, ICE had apprehended more than 2,100 criminal aliens as part of Operation Return to Sender, with some 367 of the arrested being members of violent street gangs such as MS-13. According to ICE, roughly 640 had been ordered to leave the U.S. previously and had not done so.  Approximately 121 face serious criminal charges and are now in the federal criminal justice court system.  38

3/2/2006:  Honolulu, Hawaii:  Gregory Yoo Balk Nagao, a member of the CIRCO Boys gang in Honolulu was arrested for violations of his legal immigration into Hawaii -- convicted of felony counts of first-degree robbery and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.  Authorities intend to deport Nagao. 43

2/28/2006:  Maui, Hawaii:  Federal authorites arrested Alejandro Arroyo-Rivas was arrested in Hawaii for possesing false identification. Arroyo-Rivas is a known member of the Mexican Surenos gang. 43

2/11/2006:  Maui , Hawaii:  Federal authorities arrested Christain Alberto Apondaca-Flores after he had been held by local authorities for driving without a license.  Apondaca-Flores is a known member of the Mexican Surenos gang.  43

2/09/2006:  Camden, Pennsylvania:  12 Bloods street gang members rounded up netting 10 drug traffickers.  2 of the arrested may face murder charges in a 2001 shooitng.  "Jevon Lewis, 31, of Cherry Hill, and Ahmed Judge, 29, of Camden, also were charged with a federal murder statute, which the U.S. Attorney's Office in Camden had not employed before. Both could face the death penalty if convicted in the 2001 shooting of Kenneth Fussell, 24."   37

2/2006:  Adin Coca andFrancisco Orland Osequeda-Gochez were arrrested in Hawaii by federal authorities after being held for local crimes.   Both were arrested for their affiliation with the MS-13 gang.  It should be noted that Coca was arrested for nongang-related offenses such as driving under the influence, domestic abuse and contempt of court warrants, not for gang related activities.  Indeed Coca had been living in Hawaii for eight years and held a job as a construction worker, while getting new gang related tattoos, was not believed to be an active affiliate with the gang.  43

1/26/2006:  McAllen, Texas:  Dept. of Homeland Securities Customs and Border Patrol arrested five MS-13 gang members along the Rio Grande Valley Sector, a known crossing point for illegals.  The first arrest included some 7 illegals nears Brownsville, Texas, one of whom wore MS-13 tattoos and had previously been deported and had a criminal record in Los Angeles, California.  The second arrest occurred near Riveria, Texas, where 17 illegals were arrested.  Again one of those arrested had a prior deportation and a criminal history that included weapons violations, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon.  Also on that same day, agents near Combes, Texas arrested a group of illegals which included yet another MS-13 gang member with "extensive criminal history".  A fourth arrest occurred on January 23, when an MS-13 gang member was found among a group of aliens being held.  Finally, 10 illegals were detained near Corpus Christi, Texas,  another El Salvadorian was identified as a member of MS-13.  39

12/21/2005:  Kahuku, Hawaii: Tu Huang, a member of the Vietnamese Black Crew gang was arrested in Hawaii after a home invasion robbery in Colorado.  He had fled Colorado along with Cuong Ricky Hoang who was arrested on April 15, 2005.  43

11/29/2005:  Maui, Hawaii:  Edgar Pacheco-Rojo, a 17 year old member of the Mexican 13th Street gang  in California, was arrested for possession of burglary tools, auto theft and a drug offense. 43

10/05/2005:  Nationwide:  According to the PBS News Hour program, the FBI has formed a national task force to focus on dismantling street gangs such as MS-13. Arrests included Oregon, Minnesota and Virginia. 42

9/19/2005:  Boston, Massachusetts:  ICE arrested Herberth Escobar-Leiva, a citizen of El Salvador operating under the street name of "Perro" and ordered removed from the U.S. by a Federal immigration judge.  He failed to depart the U.S. and was subsequently re-arrested and taken into custody.  Escobar-Leiva is a high ranking member of the MS-13 gang and has a long rap sheet for petty crimes such as larceny and destruction of property, along with several convictions and five outstanding state warrants.  32

8/23/2005:   Maui, Hawaii:  Javier Martinez Arellano, a member of the Mexican 18th Street Gang of Los Angeles was arrested in Hawaii, after being deported three times  Martinez-Arellano has been convicted of criminal charges of carrying a concealed weapon and grand theft auto.  He was arrested for disorderly conduct and while trying to escape tried to run over one of the arresting officers. 43
 
8/02/2005:  Washington DC Area:  Federal immigration and customs officials from Homeland Security arrested more than 1000 suspected gang members and associates in 2005 as part of Operation Community Shield, with some 11 in the greater Washington, D.C. area.  The operation has targeted 80 violent gangs in 25 states...gangs that include MS-13, Latin Kings, Asian Boyz and the Jamacian Posse as well.  The 11 in the Washington area are members of a Northern Virgina based MS-13 gang, 3 of whom are charged with reentering the U.S. illegally and having false ID papers, and several of those arrested are charged with various crimes such as robbery, assault and battery, or brandishing a firearm. 44

6/25/2005:  Nationwide:   Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has writen an excellent piece on how gangs in the U.S. have become a threat to our national security.  The concise and well written article spells it out -- from how gangs operate, to how they take advantage of our legal system to continue to operate even if their leaders are arrested and placed in prison.  Compelling reading! 23

6/16/2005:  Elizabeth and Somerset, New Jersey: 10 MS-13 gang members were arrested on charges that range from drug trafficking to forgery in connection with false IDs for purposes of entering or staying in the U.S. illegally. 7 others were arrested in Florida on the same day.  37

5/17/2005:  Shnadoah County, Virgina - Brenda Paz was stabbed 16 times on July 13, 2003.  Two members of the Virginia based cell of MS-13 were convicted of the crime.  45

4/28/2005:  Danville, Connecticut:  The small town cries Uncle and asks for help in dealing with their huge illegal immigrant crime wave and assault on public resources.  22

4/27/2005:  Nationwide:  U.S. authorities release yet another announcement dealing with the work in rounding up MS-13 members in a nationwide drive to erradicate the gang.  21

4/05/2005:  Maui, Hawaii:  Cuong Ricky Hoang, a member of Vietnames Black Crew street gang was nabbed by federal authorities in Hawaii for involvment in a Colorado home invasion and robbery. 43

3/29/2005:  Nationwide:  U. S. Border agents are being assigned to the Arizona border, thought to be the most vulnerable to illegal alien crossings, many thinking the action is response to the Minute Project, 40 to 100 voluneteers who are deploying to surveil and report on border crossings.  While some call the group vigilantes, they claim to only be interested in helping by being the eyes and ears for the border patrol. 16,17

3/24/2005:  Nationwide:  Ray Simonse of the New York Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) team reports that they have 26,000 on their list of ordered deportees, with some 3,000 - 3,500 of these convicted criminals.  Some have entered the U.S. legally, but have been convicted of  a felony and therefore will be deported on sight.  ICE investigators say the recidivism is as high as 45%, many repeating their crimes while in the U.S. 15



Sources:
  1. Gang Sweeps Result in 103 Arrests, LA Times,   Rich Connell and Robert J. Lopez, 3/15/2005
  2. Al Qaeda seeks tie to local gangs,  By Jerry Seper, The Washington Times, 9/28/2004
  3. Atlanta the next to OK 'sanctuary' for Illegal Aliens?, D.A. King, 1/7/2004, Marietta Daily Journal
  4. Gangs Or US,  Robert Walker
  5. National Gang History, Gang Reduction through Intervention
  6. Know Gangs.com
  7. Major Prison Gangs, Florida Department of Corrections
  8. Gangs  in Florida, Florida Depratment of Corrections
  9. Sanctuary Areas Are Ripe For Illegal Aliens Who Come Here to Commit Crimes, U.S. Border Control.ORG, Frosty Woolridge, 1/29/2004
  10. Sanctuaries for Crime, The Washington Times, 1/20/2004
  11. The Illegal Alien Crime Wave, Heather MacDonald, City Journal, Front Page Magazine, 2/14/1004
  12. Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, American Patrol archives, undated
  13. The Immigration Reform Act of 1996 (PDF 495KB), MILNET Mirror
  14. Domestic Terrrorism Profiles. MILNET Brief
  15. Customs Agents Look For Illegal Aliens, Fox News, 3/24/2005
  16. DHS to Beef Up Border Patrols, A.P., Fox News, 3/29/2005
  17. Civilian Minuteman to Help Patrol Border, A.P., Fox News, 3/29./2005
  18. The Most Dangerous Gang in America, Arian Campo-Flores, Newsweek, found at MSNBC, 3/238/2005
  19. N. VA. Trail to Shed Light on MS-13, Richmond Times Dispatch, 4/10/2005
  20. Statement of Chris Swecker, Assistant Director, FBI's Criminal Investigation Division, before Congress, 4/20/2005
  21. Turning up the Heat on MS-13, Jim Couri, CPP, Mens News Daily, 4/2/2005
  22. Conn. Town Struggles with Illegal Immigrants, Fox News, 4/28/2005
  23. Gangs:  A Threat to National Security, Newt Gingrich, Fox News, 6/25/2005
  24. Southern Border Security, MILNET Brief, October 21, 2006
  25. A Line In the Sand..., House Committee on Homeland Security, October, 2006 (Milnet Mirror)
  26. Islamic Terrorists Target Army Base -- In Arizona, Sara A. Carter, Washington Times, 11/26/2007
  27. ICE Takes Custody of suspected Lynn gang members, The Daily Item, Lynn, Massachusetts, 01/29/2008
  28. Police Arrest Suspected MS-13 gang member, WCNC News, Charlotte, North Carolina, 2/28/2008
  29. Immigation and The Alien Gang Epidemic: Problems and Solutions, Testimony of Michael J. Garcia, Homeland Security, before the U.S. House, 4/13/2005.
  30. MS-13 Gang Member Arrested in Columbus, The Digger's Realm Blog, 2/25/2008
  31. ICE and Ohio Task Force Arrest Criminal Alien Wanted for Murder..., ICE, U.S. Dept., of Homeland Security, 9/22/2006
  32. High Ranking MS-13 Gang Member Arrested by ICE in Boston, Free Republic, 9/23/2005
  33. Freer, Texas Border Patrol Agents Arrest MS-13 Gang Member, CBP, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, 2/21/2008
  34. Port Police Arrest 18 MS-13 Gang Members, Port Washingon News, 6/09/1998
  35. MS-13 Gang Members Arrested, WTVD, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, 7/13/2006
  36. Arrested MS-13 Member Wanted in Police Slayings, Jihad Watch, 1/13/2005
  37. 17 Alleged MS-13 Gang Members Arrested in New Jersey, Florida, MyWire.com, 6/16/2005
  38. Murder Charges Itensify Federal Drug Crackdown, Troy Graham, MyWire.com, 2/09/2006
  39. CBP Border Patrol Arrests Five Mara Salvatrucha Gang Members, CBP, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, 1/25/2006
  40. Task Force Targets MS-13 Gangs, FBI, U.S. Dept; of Justice, 11/15/2007
  41. Immigration Raids Target Violent Gang, Boston Globe, 8/29/2007
  42. FBI Targets MS-13 Street Gang, News Hour, Public Broadcasting System, 10/05/2005
  43. Two Gang Members Arrested on Maui, Star Bulletin, Hawaii, 3/18/2006
  44. Two Convicted, Two Acquitted in Suburban Virginia Street Gang Trial, CNN Law Center, 5/17/2005


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