World
October 14, 2024 18:00
annapolis - The influx of criminal activities by Latino gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua has become a focal point in the US presidential elections.
When you mention Annapolis, you think of history. The idyllic harbor town under the smoke of Washington is a well-known tourist attraction, full of classic wooden houses and a renowned military academy. Visitors stroll through the historic center of this 'Athens of America,' which in the 18th century served as the gateway to the new world. During the War of Independence, Annapolis even briefly served as the capital of the US.
Residents of the sleepy town were shocked last summer by the spectacular arrest of a 38-year-old migrant. The man from El Salvador, with tattoos up to his neck, turned out to be a notorious gang member with multiple convictions. He had been deported twice by US authorities, but had illegally returned each time. In Annapolis, he continued his criminal activities as a member of the feared MS-13 gang.
This criminal organization, known as Mara Salvatrucha, is one of the migrant gangs plaguing the US. Founded in the 1980s in Los Angeles by foreigners from El Salvador, MS-13 has evolved into an international mafia organization with ties to Mexican drug cartels. The gang is known for cocaine trafficking, prostitution, and human smuggling. Under the motto 'kill, rape, and control,' the group has built a terrifying reputation, with branches in almost every state, according to US authorities.
Migrant gangs like MS-13 have become a focal point in the US presidential elections. The uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants at the southern border with Mexico under President Joe Biden has brought not only well-meaning economic refugees but also all kinds of criminals.
The alarm bells have been ringing since the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released figures at the end of September showing that more than 13,000 migrants on US soil have been convicted of murder. Nearly 16,000 others have been convicted of sexual violence. In total, there are 435,000 foreigners with a criminal record in the US, with charges pending against another 222,000.
Although the released data do not specify how many of the criminal foreigners are behind bars, where the crimes were committed, and whether they relate to the past forty years, Republicans are using the data to criticize Democrats. The influx of illegal immigrants across the border with Mexico has increased significantly in the past three and a half years, likely bringing in more criminals.
Numbers seem to support this claim. In 2021, there were 405,000 criminal migrants registered in the US. By 2024, this number had grown by over 30,000. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris admitted in a recent TV interview that the southern border is 'broken.' She tried to blame the Republicans in Congress for blocking a last-minute Democratic shift to a stricter border policy.
The influx also attracts gang members. Besides MS-13, there is currently much concern about another criminal organization, the feared Tren de Aragua. This group from Venezuela, according to Donald Trump, has turned Aurora, a suburb of Denver, into a war zone after videos emerged of armed members taking over an apartment complex.
Nonsense, says the Republican mayor. Although he acknowledges a problem with gang-related violence, he claims that many members have been imprisoned.
The reassuring words cannot hide the harsh reality. The arrival of gangs like Tren de Aragua has set off all alarm bells in America. In 2023, 38 members were apprehended by border patrol. Meanwhile, the majority of migrants enter unnoticed. The FBI warns that the gang has established American branches and is rapidly gaining ground. A reward of twelve million dollars has been placed on the heads of the three leaders.
A challenge in tackling the gangs is the policy of many progressive cities, which act as sanctuary cities, providing refuge for illegally entered migrants. This means that the local Democratic government grants these foreigners rights and protection and prohibits the police from sharing information with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.
These cities, which act as safe havens, emerged in the 1980s in response to the strict immigration policies under Republican President Ronald Reagan. During Donald Trump's presidency, the 'resistance' of sanctuary cities gained new momentum, with all its consequences.
The FBI fears that Tren de Aragua is uniting with MS-13 and other migrant gangs. The federal agency warns that the organizations are recruiting increasingly younger members. The FBI has established task forces in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to combat these groups. Border patrol has been instructed to look for certain tattoos on apprehended foreigners. But, as Republicans argue, as long as the border remains as leaky as a basket, it will continue to be a losing battle.