New Report Shows Lax Border Security Fuels Violent Gangs
A new report from the Center for Immigration Studies shows that lax border security has fueled the spread of transnational violence across the United States.
The report says that these gangs represent a "serious menace to the public." 80% of the members of these gangs have committee serious crimes while 40% have been involved in violent crimes.
Jessica Vaughan, the author of the report, said, "The recent emergence and spread of several Hispanic street gangs, most notably MS-13 and 18th Street, has attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies and political leaders nationwide.... Many gangs are made up of small-time troublemakers, but others have a reputation for grisly violence.... They are responsible for virtually the entire spectrum of criminal activity, from nuisance crimes like graffiti to murder. Some are becoming increasingly well-organized and operating as sophisticated crime syndicates across national borders"
Nearly half of the illegal aliens arrested during the 2 1/2 years covered by the study were affiliated with MS-13 or Surenos-13, two notoriously violent street gangs.
Gang violence is on the rise across the nation and affecting communities previously safe from this scourge. The largest share of MS-13 and Surenos-13 members are illegal aliens and Ms. Vaughan says, "Local governments and law enforcement agencies that shun involvement in immigration law enforcement are missing an opportunity to protect their communities from criminal immigrant gang activity."
Click here to read a Washington Times story on the report and click here to read the report.