Mara Salvatrucha Gang | Teen Ink

Mara Salvatrucha Gang

April 27, 2017
By GeneG BRONZE, Houston, Texas
GeneG BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Gangs have crept into people’s lives like unseen monsters, taking hold and never letting victims out of its grasp. The MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) has stolen, hurt and killed, therefore it is our duty as a nation to permanently stop them. Not only is the U.S not taking these gangs seriously but we are letting them spread slowly, hurting and destroying lives in its path. Working together with different countries has been proven to be effective in taking down members of this ruthless gang. Even something as simple as cutting off some of their connections would be useful to their ultimate demise.  Educating young generations on the dangers of MS-13’s terrorist gang activity, working together internationally, and learning about their system will not only help take down this menace, but prevent other terrorist groups from emerging in the U.S and Central America.

 

Our nation overall has not done its best to prevent gang growth. Over the years, gangs like MS-13 have spread to around 8 countries, including the United States and have left a series of dreadful crime behind them. Many deportation laws have been set up to help move the threat away, sending countless delinquents over to Central American countries. This has become a major problem for these countries, over-crowding their jails and allowing violent acts to increase. Sending problems away does not mean the problem has been solved. Working together, the U.S and Central American countries would stand a chance against MS-13. 


Since MS-13 has begun to spread in the U.S, being able to communicate with teenagers of today has never been more important. They face many dangers around their age and letting them know the threat that the MS-13 gang poses could help them lead a path away from criminal records. Based on a survey conducted by myself in 2017, around 20% of teens in middle school have considered joining a gang, depending on the circumstances. This is frightening to know, since the majority of gang members in MS-13 are around the ages 12-20. Most don't finish high school, end up in jail or are very poor and live a life of misery. Helping healthy teens understand how self-destructive joining a gang could be, could possibly decline and weaken MS13 and other gang systems for future recruiting. According to the research from the University of Pittsburgh, such young generations need guidance and should be warned of how manipulative and complex gangs are to try to make teenagers join.
Something all people could make an effort to learn is how the gang, MS-13, works in hierarchy terms, even through its international status. The few groups that have infiltrated MS-13 are experts in these matters and have found valuable information, including territories, hideouts, strategies, even connections with the government. Leaders in jail still communicate with their gang members and plan criminal activities through smuggled cellphones and informants.  Many groups are connected and organized loosely, giving people a way to take down small subgroups. As many as 8,000 to 10,000 members exist, and any possibility to decrease that number should be considered.


If MS-13 is weakened enough, most of the other major gangs would feel threatened, even scared. Hal Marcovitz, publisher of “Gangs”,has stated that many groups view MS-13 as the largest international group and take after them in certain ways. They’re leaders, and if a leader is brought down, others will be brought down with them. The fall of MS-13 would be followed by many more, and communities would be safer. Gangs have become a serious problem to our communities, and if capturing MS-13 and putting an end to their criminal ways will help stop gangs overall, people must start taking action.


Countries have been greatly affected by MS-13, but if we could possibly be informed better, found a way to work together with other governments and taught the targeted age group of this gang about its detailed system and criminal ways, the chances of putting a stop to this gang would be noticeably higher. Being able to know how something works means you can break it apart, and the same theory applies to MS-13. This gang runs internationally and has a large number of members, therefore informing and helping the age group of people chosen to become members would lead to a decrease of numbers. Indeed, MS-13 is a large international terrorist gang, but Instead of being blissfully ignorant, we should work together to bring down this group once and for all.



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This article has 19 comments.


CeciliaVu said...
on May. 17 2017 at 3:22 pm
CeciliaVu,
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
Me too, I definitely learned a lot about gangs and have a better understanding. The facts informed a lot and they were interesting, especially the age range for MS-13.

Ryan.M said...
on May. 17 2017 at 3:22 pm
Ryan.M,
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I knew some information about gangs like their actions and all, but you seem pretty determined and passionate about ending this problem and I respect that.

on May. 17 2017 at 3:10 pm
LissaHarding BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't you just hate it when your brownie posses you?" - My friend Ruby

this is good. if we work together we can take down all international gangs

GustavoC. said...
on May. 17 2017 at 3:08 pm
GustavoC.,
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I feel as I have a better understanding on MS-13 than before. Aware of what is actually happening out there in the world and the majority of the people not taking this seriously.

on May. 17 2017 at 3:01 pm
RaniaAitbouchireb BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 5 comments
Before I read this article, I barely had any knowledge of gangs and what they are and do. This has really informed me!

iamcool said...
on May. 17 2017 at 3:01 pm
iamcool, Houston, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 6 comments
I have heard about gangs and how they affect people around us in some sort of way and you talking about these issues sure brings us together to talk about it :)

StyLish said...
on May. 17 2017 at 2:12 pm
StyLish,
0 articles 0 photos 10 comments
I agree that they join to have more protection and people to talk to. They would die for each other because they are like a family.

Xdragon said...
on May. 17 2017 at 1:55 pm
Xdragon,
0 articles 0 photos 13 comments
The thing about gangs is that I have heard a lot about how people who go to my schools are part of some gangs and what not, and that they have fought other gangs before. But the thing is that I have never seen gang activities before. However, that doesn't mean that I want to be exposed to gang activities. I am perfectly fine with how my life is right now.

on May. 17 2017 at 1:52 pm
Oswaldo_Ponce BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 11 comments
People want to join gangs because they may feel more protected and have people to talk to. Some of these gang activities are brought to school and then causes some problems. Younger people seem to be joining gangs. The police department in many cities have been trying to stop some of these gang activities by arresting gang members. But that just doesn't seem to be enough to stop these activities.

jxordan BRONZE said...
on May. 17 2017 at 1:46 pm
jxordan BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 12 comments
Woah, never thought of that. The government is full of classified information and i'm pretty sure they are aware of this gang and others.

on May. 17 2017 at 1:37 pm
1LonelyRose BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 16 comments
I've never really been exposed to gang activity, I dont really know much about gangs, so this was interesting for me.

on May. 17 2017 at 1:28 pm
PeterCao BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 14 comments
If the government does invest their time in trying to weaken MS-13 they won't be losing just time. They'll lose money trying to stop this group. What if the government is turning a blind eye because they don't want to use resources in stopping/weakening this group?

nango said...
on May. 17 2017 at 10:48 am
nango, Houston, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 15 comments
Gangs are around communities, schools, and neighborhoods and they are affecting peoples life's.

K.Dang said...
on May. 17 2017 at 10:28 am
K.Dang, Houston, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 10 comments
The way the government is currently trying to prevent gangs is to threaten them of deportation or time in jail. Instead, we should be promoting good morals that will lead to a more disciplined life.

LanTo BRONZE said...
on May. 17 2017 at 10:28 am
LanTo BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 14 comments
Gangs are something that people should always avoid and even stop them. If we were to stop these gangs (just like you said) then many Americans and teens will be able to feel more safe as well.

ASLanguage said...
on May. 17 2017 at 10:25 am
ASLanguage, Houston, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 15 comments
Some people think gangs in the world are okay until they mess with them. Others, don't like them because of their stereotypical activities that they do. Nice article!

Sugars said...
on May. 17 2017 at 10:24 am
Sugars, Houston, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 14 comments
When people are in gangs, they feel as if the people in the gang are their family and feel as if they can always comfort them and be there for them which is not always the case. Sometimes when you think the gang is your family they can just turn on you.

on May. 17 2017 at 10:13 am
Carsafety BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 14 comments
I can relate to this topic because my dad is in one of the biggest in the world and it really does affect the family because of the fact that they are related to a gang member so I mean this topic is just really a big topic which police have been trying to solve for years

on May. 17 2017 at 10:08 am
KimberlyNgo BRONZE, Houston, Texas
1 article 0 photos 14 comments
In reality, gangs are in fact very dangerous. But, some kids think fluff and think that it's okay and group activities aren't as dangerous as they seem.