Gang Violence In Central America

Gang Violence In Central America
Central America Gang Violence
Gangs in central america is dangerous.
Gangs are partially responsible for drug distribution. "Most gangs specialize in one or more types of
crime, including car theft, robbery, embezzlement, firearms sales, racketeering, and drug
trafficking."
(Driscoll 10). More than 60,000 people has died in Central America due to drugs being transported
around the area.
"Public gang activity, imprison gang members and disrupt narcotics distribution schemes. These are
necessary, but have proven insufficient since the gang re–forms, truant youth and drop–outs re–
occupy public spaces, and drug distribution recurs." (Alladi. 5)
In some urban communities, residents and organizations have devised creative locally based
strategies ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, while the number may be less than in Guatemala and Honduras, El Salvador's gangs are
probably the most violent in the region. (Perez, 226)
Gangs are therefore the product of diverse social factors that express themselves in a variety of life
conditions. (Perez 222) who express fear that they will be victims of crime in their neighbourhood.
The data indicates that over 40 percent of those surveyed in Honduras and El Salvador fear falling
victim to a crime in their neighbourhood. (Perez, 220)
Youth Violent Activities
Youth gangs also differ significantly in terms of their involvement in illegal and violent activities.
(Perez, 225)
(ii) Juvenile criminal gangs: They possess defined organisational structures; they are used by
organised crime and are capable of conducting more serious offences such as rape, larceny,
homicide; most members have broken with family ties.
(Perez, 225) U.S. Gang violence has prompted many young people in Central America to flee their
homes, leading to U.S. authorities' detaining record numbers of unaccompanied migrant children
crossing Mexico's border with the U.S. last year.
(Tombola,
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The Face Before Me Is Youthful And Stern
The face before me is youthful and stern; his smile is sincere, and inviting yet there is a slight
quiver. This may be due to the fact that we have never spoken in such a formal and serious setting.
Ernesto Santiago, now 46, is a former member of the Mexican Infanteria de Marina. Ernesto was
stationed in Sierra León and was put in charge of escorting Pemex employees to inspect tampered
company pipelines. Whenever they escorted Pemex employees it was routine to simultaneously
monitor cartel members on an open channel. During one of these routine surveillances a cartel
member uttered his name. In Mexico it is common knowledge that if your name is being circulated
by cartels it is because you have become a target. "En ese momento mi corazón ... Show more
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They have an ambiance, yes we were poor but we were honest, the police was comprised by uncles
and cousins." In his small town children grew up with minimal education and with agriculture being
the only career to look forward to. Ernesto however envisioned himself as an educated professional.
"Tenia miedo de la gran ciudad, era enorme. Pero yo sabia que yo no me quería quedar atrapado en
la pobreza y en la vida de campo/ I was afraid of the big city, it was enormous. But I knew that I
didn't want to stay stuck in poverty and having to work in the field." The nearest university was
located in Oaxaca, 20 miles away.
"La ciudad era de hecho enorme me sentí como una idiota y nunca estuve realmente cómodo. No me
gusto que no reconocía a nadie. Todos los días había diferentes personas./ The city was in fact huge.
I felt like an Idiot and I was never really able to adjust. I dint know anyone. Everyday there were
different people." The school was a sea of ever changing faces and the only people he could count
on were the army officials who checked students as they entered the University. He slowly began
conversing with the officials and he became interested in their profession. As academics became
overwhelming and expensive he deemed it as a sign that University was not for him. Ernesto
decided to then drop out of school and enlisted in the army and became a

The Benefits Of Child Immigrants In America
As many as half a million Central American immigrants illegally travel to the United States each
year. The data base, Issues and Controversies about the American immigration policy, states "the
appeal that the United States holds for many immigrants, combined with its restrictive immigration
policy, has led millions of people to enter the country illegally" (Immigration Policy). Most of these
people are women in addition to children. Seventy five percent of child immigrants are searching for
their mothers who have already traveled to America to support their family. Furthermore, only about
two–thirds of the migrants will be able to make it past the United States Immigration and
Naturalization Service; the rest are deported back to their countries. Nevertheless, the perils of the
journey are widely known; most child immigrants are raped, robbed, and beaten multiple times.
While they are immigrating illegally, the trek of child immigrants from Central America is
dangerous due to sexual assault, accidents on the trains, and gang violence. One active threat
immigrants face is sexual assault, especially towards young girls. Of course, this is always a risk,
nonetheless it grows greater in the dangerous terrain that immigrants must pass through. According
to a 1997 University of Houston study "nearly one in six migrant girls detained by immigration
authorities in Texas says she has been sexually assaulted during her journey" (Nazario 78). In
Enrique's Journey, Nazario discusses

Body Language Mara Salvatrucha
Body Language/pg114: The way in which people use their bodies to give messages to others. Body
language is one of the elements depicted throughout the documentary. It can be shown both with the
way the gangs walk along the streets of the territory they control. It is also shown with the
mannerisms of the people who did the interviews. It is both depicted in plain site with the gang
members, or the subtly with the looks on the faces with the Lisa Ling and her crew. For Mara
Salvatrucha, body language is used to mark the territory of the land they have control over. They are
able to tell who is a member of their clique just by they way they act or walk along their streets.
They are also able to tell if someone is a part of a rival gang that

Nicole Hogue World's Most Dangerous Gang Essay
Six interesting new facts/ issues:
1. Counterculture (Pg. 48)– a group whose values, beliefs, norms, and related behaviors place its
members in opposition to the broader culture
The MS13 is a perfect example of a counterculture. They are a world within themselves. The gang is
very organized and structured; there is hierarchy with the gang. There is a significant amount of
money flow within the gang. A few ways the gang obtains money is by drug dealing, illegal
weapons, vendors pay the gang to work in their territories and for their protection, and drug dealers
also pay the gang to earn the right to sell drugs in their territories. There are laws and rules that a
gang member must abide by. One very strict rule for a gang member is ... Show more content on
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There are many stigmas associated with being a member of MS13. Cooperating with a member of
the gang even in the smallest of ways is punishable by law to the extent of losing your home. This
punishment is set because they are viewed as a serious threat because they are such a violent and
dangerous group and law enforcement is really trying to crack down on their activities. By
becoming a member of the Mara Salvatrucha you are stigmatized for life. The MS13 gang
association will follow you until the day you day. Even if a member tries to leave the gang they have
the weight of worrying if a current member has been ordered to kill them. Gang members
sometimes purposely bring about a stigma towards themselves by covering their bodies in tattoos.
These tattoos are not tattoos that most would consider to be beautiful by any means. The tattoos tell
the story of their life within the gang. Another body marking that regularly comes about because of
being a gang member is scars. Many members are involved in brutal fights, stabbings, and
shootings. They wear these scars with pride whereas others see them as ugly reminders of how
brutal the life of a gang member is. The association with a gang, especially one such as the MS13
who is known for their power and willingness to be violent is a stigma that one can never ignore.
Some stigmas that come along with being a

De Nadie Commentary
"De Nadie" Commentary
This documentary is focused on the numerous immigrants originating from Central America,
undertaking an extremely dangerous journey of about 2500 miles up north towards the southern
border of the United States, where they hope to cross and profit from the wealth available in the
U.S.. The movie is accordingly named "de Nadie", which translates into "No–One", and follows
various immigrants on their journeys, interviewing them on their way and depicting the many
injustices and setbacks encountered by each of them. The difficulties emphasized in this
documentary are mainly the one's which are usually overlooked when discussing the issue of U.S
immigration, including political, economical, medical and criminal ... Show more content on
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Throughout the documentary stories are told by immigrants who crossed paths with La Mara, some
about fighting back and being savagely injured, others about obeying and surviving and others who
hid and lost everything.
Contributing to all this violence and injustice, one would hope for the just calls of the police.
Unfortunately the police in Central America is just as bad, and is referred to in the movie as the
"thieves with permits". The police is generally known not to help the immigrants or at least act
judicially, but rather to assault them, stealing everything they own from them and beating and
abusing them sometimes resulting in casualties. This is confirmed in the documentary by many
immigrants and civilians in Mexico who have personally experienced the abuse and see no bright
future for justice in their country. The police is also accused of being corrupt, so not much can be
done against the situation and malpractices, also due to the unwillingness of the victims to file
complaints and raise awareness. Most are unwilling out of fear of being deported back to their own
country, this bringing us to the next issue, the Immigrations Department. Unfortunately once the
immigrants get to the border of Mexico, the next obstacle addressed in the movie is the Mexico
Immigrations Department. In the documentary the Immigration Department explains how Mexico
has become extremely involved in the U.S immigration procedure of the

Epidemic of Violence in the USA Essay
Violence, one of the biggest problem in the world right now, especially in America, where the gun
control law are barely enforced, every citizen is at constant risk, considering the amount of people in
this country that own guns. Crime and violence are rapidly becoming the prime epidemic in the U.S
today, but what can we do to ensure our future generation's safety? Gun violence is a big problem
everywhere, in poor rural neighborhoods to prosperous urban cities like Malibu, it can happen
anywhere at any time. The most deadly cases happen in suburban areas where no one would suspect
any thing would happen, these areas are the prime target for mass shootings. Some of the most
known tragic events include the Columbine massacre ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It angered a lot of people but unless the congress sees it the way the citizens sees it, this is a problem
that is not easy to solve. Fifteen of the twenty–five worst mass shootings in the last decade
worldwide occurred in the United States of America. This is really telling people something about
our country, it says people with guns are crazy and dangerous and America has a lot of it. Even
though more guns don't necessarily mean more murders, the amount of unregistered guns out in the
public is a real issue that cannot be ignored. About sixty percent of people in the U.S own guns, the
estimated number of guns legally owned by civilians is 270,000,000 to 310,000,000 (FBI), and that's
not counting all the illegally owned firearms. When asked why they need guns, most Americans say
that its part of their rights and amendments, to protect themselves and their family. If most people
with guns just want to protect themselves, why do so many people die every year from gun
violence? The answer is all the illegal firearms that land in the hands of criminals and psychopaths.
Because of the almost non–existing rules and regulations, it is very easy for someone to illegally
acquire a gun. These people get guns either from a corrupt dealer, private gun sales or a method
these criminals call–'straw purchasing', the most common way a criminal obtain firearms. This is
when someone

Mara Salvatrucha MS-13 Gang Analysis
1. Culture shock– The disorientation that people experience when they come in contact with a
fundamentally different culture and can no longer depend on their taken for granted assumptions
about life. Pg. 35
In the movie "The world's most dangerous gangs", I was extremely shocked to see these people act
the way they do. The gang Mara Salvatrucha aka MS–13 is a street gang with over 3,000 people and
as of 2009, the gang was invading 33 states. The man goal of this gang is to make money by drug
trafficking and block their territory. This specific MS–13 gang started in Los Angeles by a little kid
that had no idea what this would turn into now. They all say once you a part of MS–13; you are a
part for life. There is no backing out now, unless ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They say that to become a leader, you must kill the other current MS leader. And the reason you
would do this would show that you can do and handle anything. You will take over the drug
trafficking and everything just to get richer. The MS leader according to Brenda Paz in LA was
Bruster. Bruster was never spoke of other than when Brenda stated he was leader and I'm sure that
plays a big part in her death. There are numerous other gangs that they have to keep out of MS
territory. For instance, The Paradise Loco's is a local gang that again their tattoos tell their
biographies. Police have certain people that are able to read the MS and other gangs tattoos to help
them find the leader. The only downfall in this situation, is when you find the leader and kill them,
you would be putting your family in danger for the rest of your lives. The rival gangs would try to
paint the blocks with their graffiti, and the MS leaders and members would kill them. It is a constant
fight between the MS members and other gangs. Like Jester stated, while you're driving or walking
around you always have your gun ready to shoot someone if someone is invading your territory. I
don't' believe our law enforcement and even SWAT has the capabilities to keep these people out, and
defend themselves. These guys are beat to nearly death to even get in the gang, they can take
anything. While watching this movie, I saw a lot

The Problem Of Gang Violence
Gang violence has grown to be a great problem in El Salvador in the last 30 years. Gangs have
grown into large, complex organized crime units; the two largest gangs, MS13 (also known as Mara
Salvatrucha 13) and Barrio18 (also known as Calle18), now encompass large parts of Central
America. Both gangs rely heavily on local drug–peddling, which drives most of the general gang
violence. The desire for control over certain areas had forged a fierce rivalry, in which civilians are
often endangered when caught in the crossfire. In 2014, El Salvador alone counted 900 homicides a
month, in which at least 30 of those murders were ruled femicides. Both MS13 and Barrio18 are
active in the human–trafficking trade; the kidnapping of women and girls who are eventually sold
into sex slavery is extremely common, which perpetuates a toxic cycle of exploitation of women by
men by enforcing toxic masculinity based in the oppression of women. El Salvador is not only
facing a domestic women 's rights emergency, but a internal safety crisis of epic proportions. State
authority officials are often involved in extortion rings, which has only heightened the prevalence of
public transport extortion. The pervasiveness of extortion has become an extensive problem; local
economies cannot prosper while paying costly gang–taxes, which despite offering the residents a
promise of security and protection, only contribute to the poverty by hindering any surplus which
typically characterizes the beginnings of

The Cause and Effect of Joining a Gang with reference to...
The Cause and Effect of Joining a Gang with reference to Mara Salvatrucha 13
According to the Cambridge Dictionary (n.d.), a gang is defined as, "a group of criminals that work
together." Gangs are a powerful force that is a constant threat against society. As of 2011, the
National Gang Center (n.d.) estimates there to be 782,500 gang members in the United States alone.
Mara Salvatrucha 13, also known as MS–13, is one of the biggest and most threatening gangs. The
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) (n.d.) believes Mara Salvatrucha 13 to have an
estimated 10,000 members in the United States and several thousand other members in Central
America. Joining a gang is justified by the need for protection, money, and promoting a ... Show
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A gang takes care of its members and ensures they have the opportunity to live comfortably.
Regarding protection and money, joining a gang such as Mara Salvatrucha 13 is the ideal choice of
"occupation" for an immigrant.
The final categorical reason to join a gang is to promote one's self image. Self image deals less with
the concept of surviving and more directly with personal choice. Joining a gang is not necessarily
the most logical decision or worth the consequences, but it appears cool, tough, and obligatory to
certain individuals, especially to residents in the cities. Tattoos, graffiti, specific clothing articles,
and hand signs are some of the most common ways gangs identify themselves. According to HIDTA
(n.d.) Mara Salvatrucha 13 members commonly have MS–13 or MSXII tattooed somewhere on their
bodies. Bigger tattoos generally represent greater gang involvement (n.d.). Graffiti of similar
symbols to the gang's tattoos are used to mark their territory. With regards to attire, a blue or black
bandana around the wrist, head, or neck is often associated with Mara Salvatrucha 13 members
(n.d.). Members like wearing blue sports jerseys of a player with the number thirteen, three, or
twenty–three (n.d.). Air Jordan hats are worn because the logo resembles their hand sign, "devil
horns," which is a modification of the "rock on" sign (n.d.). The thumb holds

The New Gang Became Known As The Mara Salvatrucha Stoners...
In 1979, a civil war broke out in El Salvador between government soldiers and civilians. The war
lasted for more than a decade and left blood as well as approximately 700,000 refugees. These
refugees also included former military combatants. In the 1980's vast amounts of the refugees
migrated to Los Angeles (LA), which is the home of 1,000+ gangs. The refugees were not
welcomed to LA and became ostracized in the Hispanic community as it had been controlled by
Mexican street gangs (Eighteenth Street gang). This caused some of the refugees to form a group of
their own. The new gang became known as the Mara Salvatrucha Stoners (MS Stoners). The gang
begins as a group who was all about smoking week and having a good time. Over time, they started
to grow and aggressively sell drugs. In doing this they, imposed on the Mexican gang's territory. In
the summer of 1990, a fight broke out between the two gangs and a member of the MS Stoners was
shot. This started a war between the two groups. The war escalated and became so violent that
innocent people were getting hurt. The Mexican mafia saw how bad the war was for business, so
they intervened to put an end to the bloodshed. The Mexican mafia divided up the territory between
the two gangs. Shortly after this meeting the Mara Salvatrucha Stoners dropped Stoners from their
name and added the number thirteen to show respect to the Mexican mafia. With the support of the
Mexican mafia and Eighteenth Street, Mara Salvatrucha Thirteen

Transnational Gangs And Immigration Research Paper
Transnational Gangs and Immigration
August 2015, 907 murders, and average of 25 murders per day committed by 13–15 year old gang
members. (Transnational Gangs Part 1;Understanding the Threat, 2016) El Salvador is the epicenter
of gang activity in Central America and the largest influence on gang activity in the US. Showing no
respect for law enforcement, borders, and little for human life gang violence is a requirement for
young teens to become members of the La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS–13, and the 18th Street gangs.
Two years of initiation culminating in at least one murder are required to obtain membership in
these gangs.
Many of the leaders of the different factions of these gangs order members to commit crimes in the
US. Both MS–13 and 18th Street gangs have positioned themselves in many places within US
borders. The FBI reports as many as 42 states including the District of Columbia have operating
cliques of MS–13. (The MS–13 Threat, 2008). MS–13 is involved in a large amount of criminal
activities, ranging from car theft to murder. The gang is extremely violent, but mostly toward rival
gangs which unfortunately involve innocent citizens caught in the violent crossfire. (The MS–13
Threat, 2008) The threat level is medium in the majority of the US bit is considered high in the
western states, northeast, and any place where the Salvadoran immigrant population is larger. (The
MS–13 Threat, 2008)
The 18th Street gang also known as Barrio 18 has become one of the largest

The Mara Salvatrucha From Los Angeles
The Mara Salvatrucha originating from Los Angeles, California is one of the world's most renown
gangs. The gang was established in Los Angeles in year 1980 by Salvadorian immigrants and war
refugees. Salvadorians were migrating to the United States in hope and search for a better life,
economically and socially. They came to a rude awakening of racism and isolation within society.
These immigrants coming to a different country felt the need to group up and stick by each other
helping one another knowing they were all on the same page. Eventually the immigrants feel to the
easiest way of life given their circumstances, and fell into the gang life. These Salvadorian Los
Angeles residents formed what is now known as Mara Salvatrucha also known as MS–13.
Mara Salvatrucha was created by Salvadorians that fled their country because of a civil war.
Essentially they were immigrants and refugees, being kids that grew up surrounded by violence.
Due to these factors creating a gang was not something out of the norm for these kids, they were
used to the violence. MS–13 is now considered the fastest–growing, most violent and least
understood of the nation 's street gangs in the United States of America. (2005) The word mara
stands for "posse" or "gang" and Salvatrucha refers to peasants that were trained to become guerrilla
fighters in the civil war. It is said that the 13 in MS–13 was adopted out of respect to the Mexican
Mafia, representing the 13th letter in the alphabet "M". The

Aryan Gangs: Security Threat Groups In Prison
STGs There are many dangerous gang in prison and out on the streets that are a security threat to
prison staff and to public. These groups are called STGs or Security Threat Groups (gangs). Prisons
and police officers try to control these gangs as much as possible so there could be the least threat as
possible. Some of the main security threat groups are: The Aryan Brotherhood, The Ku Klux Klan,
The Folks, The Nation of Islam, and MS 13. These 5 groups are a major threat to prison staff and
people out in the streets, so they try to keep an eye on them as close as possible to prevent from
anyone getting hurt or even kill. Some of these gangs can be so dangerous that they control streets
and police or authority don't really want to mess with them to not lose their life.
The Aryan brotherhood, or AB, is a white supremacist prison gang that has over 10,000 members in
and out of prison. The Aryan brotherhood was founded by white supremacists, Barry Mills and Tyler
Bingham, at the San Quentin state prison in 1964. This gang was formed to protect white inmates
but through time the gang started to gain power and started to become more and more dangerous.
This gang is most powerful in Texas because that is where they have the most members. The Aryan
brotherhood is so dangerous that they are on the police hit list after a series of murders on law
enforcement officials. The Aryan brotherhood is often being searched by the FBI, DEA, and ATF
who are trying to dismantle

Ms 13 Gang
MARA–SAVATRUCHA (MS13) The Civil War in the early 1980s in El Salvador cost the lives of
about 100,000 people. Besides, two million people are reported to have immigrated to the United
States, due to the uncertain political and social conditions there. A big chunk of the refugees arrived
and settled in the Rampart area of Los Angeles. They needed low cost housing and employment.
That area was already afflicted with gangs and crimes. For the local population of Mexican–
Americans, this was the most unwelcome development. The combustible youth immigrants from
Salvador took the problem of their survival in response to the victimization at the hands of local
gangs, as a serious challenge and formed a new gang by name Mara Salvatrucha, ... Show more
The MS–13 gang has cliques, or factions, located throughout the United States and is unique in that
it retains is ties to its El Salvador counterparts. With cliques in Washington DC, Oregon, Alaska,
Arkansas, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Virginia,
Georgia, Florida, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and several other South American
countries, the MS–13 gang is truly "international" and on the verge of becoming the first gang to be
categorized as an "organized crime" entity." (MS13 Gang....)The strength of the gang members is
36,000 in Honduras. The age of the members is normally between 11 to 40 years. Initially started as
a defensive organization to protect El Salvadorian immigrants from the cruelty of LA gangs, the
gang soon began targeting the members of the Salvadorian community as well. Criminality became
a way of life for the M–13 gang members, with no holds barred. It soon turned out to be business of
profiteering, and it expanded rapidly across the United States. By the 1990s, its network spread like
the octopus growing in all directions, and its membership had reached the East Coast. Initially they
were not well–organized. In the early 2000s, the organizational pattern had changed. The leadership
of these newly organized units emanated from faraway places like California and El Salvador. Cells
began to sprout all over the country. In Texas and the Rio

Gangs and Organized Crime in the United States
Gangs and Organized Crime in the United States Criminal Justice Janaree Nagel 10/15/2011 Gangs
and Organized Crime in the United States is on the rise. With the increase in turf wars, position and
the financial gains, gang wars and Organized Crime are linked together in many ways. Within this
paper, I will show how they are all tied together in. The M–13's are the largest reported gang
controlling large areas of our states. However, the largest area to which the MS–13's control is
within our own capital, Washington D.C. Their leaders rule all the gangs from inside El Salvador. I
will discuss other gangs, and their ties into Organized Crime. Gangs and ... Show more content on
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Only when this social bond is weakened is crime likely to occur. He contended that this social bond
has four elements; Attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs (Fuller 2006)." In the
attachment, when children respect their parents, appreciate all that they do for them, they are less
likely to be involved in criminal activity. However, when they do not have the proper guidance, lack
of concern for their outside activities, they tend to stray, and seek out those who show concern for
them. Often it becomes a role model, a close friend, someone to which they seek approval from.
This becomes their attachment bond. In gangs, this often leads to the higher authority, a person to
which they look up too, to whom they want to become. The level of commitment involves how far
one will go to prove themselves. One is committed to a gang, to which they consider all members
family. "People who have money, property, and good reputations are committed to the social system
that allowed them the opportunities for that success (Fuller 2006)." In a gang, being a member of a
respected gang, means that they too will have respect by those outside of the gang, and will often be
in fear of your presence. As in the MS–13, individuals who are quite familiar with this particular
gang know that it is a matter of survival of their own existence to cross a gang member; therefore,
the ordinary citizen will be wise to give way to the member. In the

The Death Of Gang Research
In the early twentieth century, the term "gang" was associated with groups in socially disorganized
and deteriorated inner–city neighborhoods: It was applied to juveniles who engaged in a variety of
delinquencies, ranging from truancy, street brawls, and beer running to race riots, robberies, and
other serious crimes (Regoli, Hewitt, DeLisi, 2011). There were several gangs within the United
States, which included street gangs, prison gangs, motorcycle gangs, and organized crime gangs that
still exist today. The word "gang" is derived from the word "gonge," which is a term that means a
journey. Frederic Thrasher who was called the "Father of Gang Research", who defined the word
gang as kids in the streets back in the 1920s. Many of the American gangs began in urban areas and
they still exist. It is said that many of the known street gangs originated in some of the major cities
like Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and New York, and they later moved to other
American cities such as Atlanta, Cleveland, St. Louis, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans,
Milwaukee, Orlando, Houston, and Detroit. According to the 2011 National Gang Threat
Assessment, published by the National Gang Intelligence Center, some 33,000 gangs were estimated
to be operating in the United States in 2011, comprising an estimated 1.4 million members (Driscoll,
2013). Some of the first predecessors of street gangs were Secret Societies, Gangs of Outlaws in the
Wild West,

Street Gangs And Gang Violence
Everyone is well aware of gangs and gang violence. Street gangs differ from organized crime such
as mobs and mafias. Street gangs commit a lot more senseless crimes without reason. A murder can
take place for something as simple as stepping on ones shoe or looking at someone a certain way.
All taken as signs of disrespect in the gang world; even the insane acts of what's known as
"initiation week" where many random murders take place. In a lot of gangs this process is done to
show that an individual has the "heart" to take a life, no matter whose.
In this list I will be revealing some of the world's most notorious street gangs gruesome and
shockingly disturbing murders. To not only other gang members but also to those who just happen to
be ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Mexico is no stranger to brutal violence and gang activity, in just the same weekend of this event
alone 16 people were murdered. The news that made headlines about this one in particular death
brought a lot of awareness that something needs to change.
In Pinotepas Nacional, a family was walking out of a convenience store when they were gunned
down by a drive–by. The Oaxaca state attorney general said that it appeared to be drug gang rivals
from a neighboring state who were the ones to track them down and kill them. The parents father
Juan Alberto Pano Ramos 24, and mother Alba Isabel Colón 17, were drug dealers working for
someone named Gonzáles. This drug gang rival ultimately led to the demise of the two parents and
their 7–month–old son Marcos Miguel Pano Colón lying face down in his father's arm.
A BABIES FINAL NAP
As mentioned before, anyone can be victims of gang retaliation. Bullets have no names and anyone
being at the wrong place at the wrong time can fall victim to a

Textual Analysis Of Mara Salvatrucha
a. Symbolic Interaction/pg. 23: a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of
symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate
with one another. The tattoos of Mara Salvatrucha are an example of symbolic interaction; these
tattoos are symbols that enable the gang members to identify others who take part in the same group
or clique as they are. Markings common to the MS13 gang include "MS" which stands for Mara
Salvatrucha, the devil horns, a sign similar to the same symbol commonly seen displayed by heavy
metal musicians and their fans, which are an "M" when, displayed upside down, and "Mara
Salvatrucha." Tattoos can also express a member's ranking within the gang, their ... Show more
There are fifty to one hundred thousand members in the Mara Salvatrucha gang worldwide, of that
approximately ten thousand "soldiers" in about forty–seven states throughout the United States.
Once the person goes through their induction they are stripped down of their self–identity and made
into a new person who is more useful to the gang; this is a perfect example of a degradation
ceremony. This process takes some time because the new member is obligated to recruit new
members, kill to prove their loyalty, and bring in money. This is how the new member proves
themselves worthy to the gang and also how they establish their status ranking within their clique of
the gang. The gang members are also taught to "live for God and your mother, but die for your
gang."

Ms 13 Gang Essay
Juan A. Resendiz
Mr. Harris
English IV CP
April 21, 2011
Hidden Violence The word gang–everyone knows what it means or what it stands for. Of course by
the time children get to the end of their elementary years they've heard of know gangs such as; the
Cribs, Bloods, Latin Kings, Vatos Locos, but none of those names cause as much fear and terror as
the gang called La Mara Salvatrucha aka MS–13. La Mara known for their psychotic methods of
killing and running their turf, no other gang comes close to causing the same fear as La Mara
Salvatrucha (ms–13gang.com). Forced to abandon their home land due to the civil war in El
Salvador, the adventure to the U.S. was good at the start but soon the odds turned against them.
Therefore for their ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Born in LA in the 1980's, expanding to parts of Canada, Spain, England, and Germany becoming
bigger and dangerous day by day. La Mara can now be found in Washington D.C, Oregon, Alaska,
Arkansas, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Virginia,
Georgia, and Florida just alone in the United States. In Central America they can be found in El
Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and several other Latin countries. MS–13 is considered to be one of
the most dangerous and organized in the world (altereddimensions.net).There are two ways to get
into the gang. For males one is to get jumped in, which means the new recruit is surround by
numerous members and beaten for at least 13 seconds. The other way is by killing either an enemy
gang member or just a simple killing. For females there is a third option which is to get having
sexual intercourse with several MS members or as they call it gang banged. MS–13 has many
similar criminal characteristics as other gang such as: smuggling drugs, people, and weapons. The
biggest difference with MS–13 is the willingness to use brutality in all their activities
(keysaferschools.com). All of the MS–13 activities were kept low–profile very well. Unlike many
gang which us guns, knives, and ropes to hang their victims, La Mara Salvatrucha uses machetes,
which have become their weapon of choice (ms–13gang.com). From the start gang members only
wore white,

The Causes And Effects Of Gangs In South America
One of the most death–defying acts that occur across the whole globe are gangs. These gangs travel
coast to coast trying to kidnap, rob, murder, deal drugs, and even cause atrocities. One of the biggest
problems plaguing South America are these gang related issues. Nobody is attempting to stop these
gangs due to their vast amount of power. In fact, Donald Trump, and the United States are making
an effort to deport all of the MS–13 members and get them out of the country. Otherwise, nobody is
trying to stop them and they will just keep gaining more and more power as time goes on. The
biggest problem with these gangs is what they are causing and the effects that they give off. They
are scaring people away by their appearance, people are hearing on the news that these gangs are
spreading and how they are hotwiring cars, and stealing purses. Within the first two months of 2016,
there has been a record of 1,399 murders just caused by gangs. There is also an average of 24
murders per day, within just this country. The most dangerous gangs in El Salvador are spreading all
over the world which is why this is a global issue. The two gangs that are being researched were
created around 1960 to 1980. These gangs were first founded in the "barrios" of Los Angeles and
were spread all the way to South and Central America. Barrios are neighborhoods or streets in
spanish speaking countries. This is where most South American gangs were created. These gangs
are made up of South American

Latino Men Tend To Judge A Neighborhood
We tend to judge a neighborhood often with news report and people's actions. As parents walk by
the sidewalk, they notice the red paint graffiti on the white wall behind a small store. The graffiti
reads "MS13 LEEWARD" and right away they know that it has been done by a group of gangsters
marking their property. Families assume that gangsters live in that specific neighborhood.
Each time they pass in that area they see Latino men wearing white sleeveless shirts with baggy blue
pants. They observe the different tattoos all over their arms with different shapes and letters. The
Latino men are always at the top of white concrete steps with cracks scattered over. The men are
examining everything in their way, turning their heads to the side and ... Show more content on
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While the children were playing soccer their parents are organizing the food and table. They let their
children play anywhere they want in the backyard and anywhere in the neighborhood. The aroma of
carne asada was filled throughout the backyard and into the rest of the neighborhood. The backyard
was filled with a line of green bushes and a pile of toys was in the corner for any kid to play with.
Everyone was invited but only a few went since many people had to go to work. There was Spanish
songs being played by a DJ with his big set of headphones on. Families were mixing with other
families from different backgrounds. Men were laughing, women were off talking about different
dishes and children were off playing as a group.
Everyone sat down at the big rectangular table like if they were all a big family enjoying dinner
together. There was food such as guacamole, carne asada and tacos. Families were able to take
leftovers home and were grateful for this. They each hug their neighbors good bye as they leave the
backyard into the sidewalk to their own unique

Cultural Awareness Of El Salvador
Cultural Awareness of El Salvador
When we think of culture, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Many of us begin to envision
how certain people or countries carry themselves in their daily routines. Whether it is in the way
they cook, dress, celebrate certain holidays, or just other beliefs in general. Picture a country that at
one–point war was so bad and constant that is was normal for women to cook for soldiers who are
passing by their homes. It isn't frowned upon to have a corrupted government because that is
something they have had to deal with since their independence, and children as young as the age of
seven are militants walking around with weapons in their hands, becoming social terrors. At least
during the 1980's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Throughout 1939–1971, El Salvador was run by a military–style dictatorship, causing those who
had land and wealth to be stripped from them just because they could. According to Encyclopedia
Britannica the persistence of this dictatorship can be partly credited to Augustin Farabundo Marti,
who forced the Salvadorian Communist Party (2017). Proving to be a catalyst for conflicts for years
to come. El Salvador has been a part of countless wars, whether it be with other surrounding
countries that continue to invade, or their most recent civil war that took over 12 years to resolve
and their present war with gangs. My family was unfortunate to be personally affected by the 12–
year civil war that took place during the late 1970's. My mother explained to me how socially
accepted it was to feed the countries soldiers who passed by, this became part of their culture to do
so now as explained by Every Culture (2017). Some women stayed home to look after their
children, sow, and cook. Other women chose to arm themselves and become militants as well. It
became accepted to see both women and children join the troops during those chaotic times. In 1979
to 1981, an estimated 30,000 people were killed by death squads formed by the anti–government
organization known as Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) as explained by Info
Please (2017). The United States Army sent their Green Berets to help intervene and

Mara Salvatrucha Essay
Assignment 2: Mara Salvatrucha (MS–13)
The Mara Salvatrucha (MS–13) gang is noted to be one of the most brutal street gangs. This gang
has been around since the1980s and continues to make headlines today. Mara Salvatrucha is a
vicious street gang that was born in Los Angeles, but its roots mainly stemmed from El Salvador.
Although the location of this gang is mainly in Los Angeles, the FBI emphasized that the gang
spread to 46 states (MS–13, 2017). The idea that these MS–13 gangs spread throughout the United
States is not because gangs choose to immigrate as a whole, but it is because gang members choose
to go to different places because of their responsibilities such as family or friends. Most of these
gang members who move to different places recruit individuals of all ages to form another version
of MS–13 in the location they reside in. The immediate popularity of this gang increased mainly
because it consisted of immigrants who fled El Salvador's lengthy and traumatizing war (MS–13,
2017). However, not only did this gang consist of Salvadorians, but it also led people from
Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to become a part of it. Mara Salvatrucha is a street gang that
accommodates people from the lower part of Mexico, not just from El Salvador. ... Show more
Social disorganization is a macro–level theory which focuses on the ecological differences of crime
and how structural and cultural factors shape the involvement of crime. A person's residential
location is a factor that has the ability to shape the likelihood of involvement in illegal activities.
The social disorganization theory looks at how socioeconomic status and the environment affects
individuals and motivates them to become a part of a gang. Shaw and McKay link area delinquency
to three attributes of the social disorganization theory; economic deprivation, residential instability
and race and

Analysis: The Mara Salvatrucha Gang
The Mara Salvatrucha gang also known as "MS–13" was originally formed in Los Angeles from
immigrants from El Salvador. After the killing of a Salvadorian Archbishop during the 1980's, El
Salvador got into a Civil War with the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, known as one of
the two major political parties in El Salvador. El Salvador feared of left wing politics and so the U.S
came through in order to prevent it. El Salvadorian military came in to resolve the conflict but it
transformed into a Civil War. During the Civil War over 70,000 people lost their lives and many fled
to the United States in order to escape the chaos, bombings and riots. El Salvador once was peaceful
but became a very dangerous place to live. In 1989 a Congressmen

Latino Neighborhoods
As the civil war in El Salvador carried on from 1980 through 1992, thousands migrated into the
United States in search of better living conditions. Many of the Salvadorian families established
themselves amongst Latino Neighborhoods, especially in the Los Angeles area. Salvadorians were
essentially at the bottom of the food chain were they found discrimination and the struggle of being
in a foreign country. As a result, they created gangs as self defense groups for the Latino community,
many used the phrase, "Vivo por mi madre, muero pro mi barrio" as a promise to defend their
neighborhoods and their people (Garsd, J., 2015). One of the most popular gangs is the notorious
Mara Salvatrucha (MS–13) which originated in the Los Angeles area

Guatemal A Large Latin American Country
Guatemala once was a magnificent vacation destination for many Americans. Now, many Americans
are choosing a different getaway.Guatemala has seen many changes to daily life due to drug cartels
and street gangs. Drug cartels and street gangs have been taking over the cities and rural areas.
These two very dangerous groups of people have been threatening some people and killing others.
Many families have to pay to guarantee a safe life. If a family cannot pay, they have to escape their
homeland. The cartels and gangs ruined many families and traumatized many more. The citizens
need help but, not from only themselves. The government needs to help and realize that there is a
problem that can ruin their country. The government needs to take control of the problems that the
cartels and gangs create.
Guatemala is a large Latin American country with only a population of 12,701,000. This country is
sometimes misjudged because many people see it as a tourist destination, but sadly it is a very
dangerous place to be. The capital of this beautiful Caribbean state, Guatemala City has a high crime
rate. Many times the crimes committed are shootings and drug trafficking, but the crimes can be
more than that. Most crimes are encouraged by the cartels that the government cannot control.
(Guatemala Facts 1)
Guatemala's drug and gang issues did not originate in their homeland. Mexico had a huge influence
on the drug issues. A state patrol office states, "Members of the Zetas, another

Gang Culture in the West Essay
The presence of the Mexican population in the United States dates back to the 16th century, when
people of Spanish, Indian, Mexican, and Anglo backgrounds occupied the region that was then
northern Mexico and is currently the American South–west, including parts of what today is
Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. It is noted that Mexicans comprise the largest
modern–day immigrant group and largest immigrant group in American history (sagepub). Groups
identical of gangs are said to have first appeared in the West region as early as the 1890's. It is
proposed that the predecessors of urban gangs in the West were the palomilla (small groups of
young Mexican men). These emerging gangs grew within Mexican culture along the ... Show more
The MS–13 may display the number "13" in different ways to disguise it here in the US. However
MS–13 members in El Salvodor may wear more prominent tattoos. Shown in the movie "," the
leader of the gang's face was completely covered in tattoos. One side presented the MS–13 symbol.
Hand signs used by the MS–13 include devil's horns or gang's initials (gangs.umd). Other hand signs
used between gang members can be used for silent communication to identify themselves. This is
also shown in the movie during almost all interactions between gang members. Each member
greeted each other Gangs have been a part society for hundreds of years. Today, they are bigger and
more dangerous than any time before. Some 33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and
prison gangs with about 1.4 million members are active in the U.S. today (FBI– gangs). MS–13 is
estimated to have over 10,000 members in the US, with several thousand more in Central America.
These members are organized into cliques that take orders from central leadership in the US and El
Salvador. These cliques hold meetings and are staggered so the leadership from one clique can
attend another cliques' meeting (gangs.umd). It is common for gangs to recruit school–aged
members at 10 years and up. Gang members are often found hanging around schools in search of
new prospects. Gang members recruit in schools, on the street, while confined in detention, in jail or
prison, and many other

The Mara Salvatrucha Gang
Even though gangs give members a sense of family and unity, the problems that they stir up in Latin
America are getting increasingly worse and can only be solved by law enforcement, an increase in
armed forces, and efforts within the community. MS–13 or the Mara Salvatrucha gang is the most
prominent gang in the Latin American region. Despite the fact that Latin America is where most of
the MS–13 reside, the origins of the gang begins in Los Angeles. The large amounts of gang
members in central and Latin America can be credited to the United States to law enforcement that
forces immigrant gang members back to their origin country (####). The solutions to lowering gang
activity will not work immediately. The process will take years to finally ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
In 2005, General Bantz J. Craddock, former head of the U.S. Army Southern Command, estimated
that 70,000 mareros operated in Central America (###). That number only continues to grow as the
years progress. Among the 7 million that live in Honduras it is estimated that between 25,000 and
40,000 MS–13 gang member are active (###). The Salvadoran National Civilian Police (PNC)
estimates there are at least 25,000 Mara gang members in El Salvador and perhaps even double that
figure (###). According to Guatemalan authorities, the estimated number of gang members in
Guatemala varies between 8,500 and 175,000 (###). From Los Angeles the MS–13 gang spread
nationwide, with some estimates placing membership as high as 10,000 members dispersed into
organized "cliques" across thirty three states (###). These are a high concentration of members
spread all over the Latin American as well as in the

Ms-13
MS–13 final
MS–13 History and Origins
The Mara Salvatrucha gang originated in Los Angeles, in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants in the
neighborhood between Pico and Wilshire also know as the city's Pico–Union neighborhood. They
immigrated to the United States Due to a 12–year civil war in El Salvador, which resulted in over
100,000 deaths and over a million refugees(www.ms13gang.com). The Salvadorian refugees and
immigrants predominantly settled in southern California and Washington, D.C. Some of the refugees
and immigrants had ties with La Mara, a violent street gang from El Salvador. Others had been
members the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMNL) during the El Salvadorian civil
war(Rimmer, 2009). FMNL was made up of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Members of MS–13 display no allegiance to any country, which is evident by their extreme criminal
activity. Members traffic drugs, weapons, and personnel across national boundaries. They receive
instructions and orders from gang members in other countries. They often carry out hits on rival
gangs and business competitors to maintain their goal. MS–13 may not have Ideologies but they do
have some very serious goals. One goal is to become the top gang in the United States, and many
believe they have reached this status. The Gang does not have an agenda and is not pursuing any
Ideological goal yet, they are a criminal enterprise whose main goal at this moment is to become
larger and more in control so they can make more money. One detective was quoted to say "MS–
13's mission generally is to be the biggest, strongest, dominant gang in the Latino community that
they're in." (quantumleap, 2008). MS–13 Identification MS–13 gang tattoo's are gothic which means
they are very dark spirited. You will see MS–13 gang members with 666 tattooed on them. MS–13
Tattoos include their gang name in many forms, "13", devil horns, "SUR", "Sureno" and others.
Most members will have numerous tattoos' all around there body. Members will

Gangs, Belonging, and Acceptance Essay
Gangs, Belonging, and Acceptance
A 12–year–old boy comes home from school. He enters his home through the front door and notices
his mother sobbing. There is blood on the tissue she's holding. The boy starts to ask his mother why
she is crying when he realizes what has happened. She answers his silent inquiry about why, by
quietly saying, "your dad . . . he's on the back porch . . . he's had a bad day." Feeling helpless he
goes to his room. From his window he can see his dad taking in the last swallow of beer and yelling,
loud enough for the neighbors to hear, "Hey, bring me another beer. And where is that worthless son
of yours? He was supposed to mow the lawn yesterday." The boy, having seen this too many times
before, leaves the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Commander Bryan Smith of the Corpus Christi Police Department, when asked what type of family
life do gang members have, said they come from male dominated households or one–parent
households.
Many of these youth are from families that are female centered, they are not necessarily female
dominated, because an aggressive male father figure can impact on the family's history, and more
importantly on the child's psychosocial development.
This parental male is perceived as the most powerful member of the family system, who gratifies his
needs through the use of aggression and intimidation. Many of these youths have been physically
abused by this male adult and also have witnessed their mothers and /or siblings being battered. If
the male figure is no longer in the home, his presence survives in the form of fantasy or family
mythology long after his departure. (Adler)
Happy homes do not send many of their youngsters into gangs. Gangs are appealing to those kids
who have unpleasant memories of their home life. There is emotional pain involved in most gang–
members pasts. In the author's work (Adler) with Chicano gang youth, (most gang members in
Corpus Christi are Chicano) they point out that the Chicano gang members exhibit violent and
aggressive behavior. These youths experience intense feelings of isolation within their families,
culture, school, community and church.
These intense feelings are best explained by Adler, "Because of their own experiences

The Gang 's Cut Of A Range Of Criminal Enterprises And...
(the gang's cut of a range of criminal enterprises and activities),
A.) Group dynamics/ Pg. 158: The ways in which individuals affect groups and the ways in which
groups influence individuals Most of the ways that groups influence us lie below our sense of
awareness. The definition is the interactions that influence that attitudes and behaviors of people
when they are grouped with others through either choice or accidental circumstances. Mara
Salvatrucha also known as MS–13 originated in Los Angeles California. Salvadoran immigrants
formed MS–13 to protect themselves from other established gangs of Los Angeles, who were
predominantly composed of Mexicans and African–Americans. I thought that it was really
interesting how the gang members were recruiting new members at such a young age. They were
targeting kids who came from a troublesome home life, broken homes, or parents who were addicted
to drugs. In some way or another the gang family was filling a void for these young children that
their home life had created. The new members became completely loyal to MS–13 because their
gang family was now the family that they had never had. Now that the MS–13 group had control
over the new members, they could get them to commit any number of crimes including murder just
for the MS–13 cause.
B.) Social network/ Pg. 156: The social ties radiating outward from the self that link people together
Although we live in a huge and diverse society, we don't experience social life as a

Sin Nombre
Sin Nombre, loosely translated as "without name", is an independent film released in 2009 under the
skillful direction of Cary Fukunaga. Fukunaga, a film graduate from New York University, also
attended a French university and carries a bachelor's degree in history from the University of
California at Santa Cruz. During his studies and New York University, he made a short film titled
Victoria Para Chino, a film about a group of immigrants who died in a refrigerated trailer when
immigrating to America; The inspiration behind Sin Nombre came from that short film. In his first
major production, Fukunaga continued his interest in the topic of immigration, and came up with the
creation of Sin Nombre. The film follows both a young gangster of ... Show more content on
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The authentic representations of the Mara Salvatrucha gang make a strong appeal to intrinsic ethos
by displaying Fukunaga's commitment and intelligence. It is important to establish intrinsic ethos
within this film because it helps him gain his audience's trust, which will greatly effect the overall
acceptance of his argument. Fukunaga displays the results of his years of personal research by
creating an extremely accurate representation of the gang's culture. Through the use of several visual
and audial elements, the audience is thrown into an experience as if they were experiencing the gang
personally, as Fukunaga had. The authentic tattoos littering the bodies of the gangsters, the graffiti
masking the walls of the cities and trains, and the reenactments of the brutal rituals and initiations of
MS–13, along with the dialogue and hand signals, create both a shocking but authentic
representation of the gang's impact on Central America and Mexico. The tattoos were so authentic,
in fact, that they put the actors from the film at risk. In an interview with Neal Conan of National
Public Radio, Fukunaga explained the danger of sporting such tattoos: "We had to make sure that
the tattoos for his face, and neck and hands, all of that needed to wash off and needed to be cleaned
off before we send any of the actors home because they are real insignias and makes you a target."
Fukunaga's ability to

Mara Salvatrucha Gang Analysis
Most of the members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS–13) gang are primarily Salvadorans. This gang
was founded in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Due to the immigration issue and the fear that the people
have of the MS–13 in the United States, Trump administration is planning to get rid of the
temporary protected status (TPS) to improve the situation. The TPS gives the opportunity to around
200,000 Salvadorans to live and work in the United States. The fact that Trump is planning to
revoke the TPS concerns many people because they fear that the United States will end up with
unintended consequences like back in the 1980s.
During the Salvadoran Civil War, around 2 million Salvadorans moved to the United States. Many
of them ended up residing in the poorest

Why The Gang Will Never Die Out
MS–13: Why the Gang Will Never Die Out
Kathryn E. Psenda
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Abstract Mara Salvatrucha, often called the most dangerous gang in America, was bred from the
violence and war that plagued El Salvador for over 12 years. As Salvadoran civilians, as well as ex–
guerillas, sought asylum in the United States, they brought with them an ember of this violence that
was stoked in the dangerous streets of Pico–Union, L.A. To defend themselves, the refugees formed
MS–13, which quickly became violent as it clashed with its rival, Barrio 18. Over the last three
decades, MS–13's leaders have organized the gang in response to Anti–Gang Laws, and despite
leaks of its secrets over the years, the gang only continues to become more secretive, larger, and
more deadly as it expands into the world of organized crime. Due to its expansiveness and degree of
organization, Mara Salvatrucha will never die out unless the conditions that created the gang are
eradicated: poverty, the lack of quality education opportunities, and poor community infrastructure.
Poverty, the lack of quality educational opportunities, and poor community infrastructure–as history
tells, such conditions may serve as the basis for disaster. In 1979, the small Central American
country of El Salvador, suffering from over–population and a large wealth gap, saw its government
overthrown in a military coup (Kane, 2002). By 1980, a civil war had fully erupted between the
Salvadoran

Guatemal A Large Latin American Country
Guatemala once was a magnificent vacation country for many Americans. Now, many Americans
are choosing a different getaway.Guatemala has seen many changes to daily life due to drug cartels
and street gangs. Drug cartels and street gangs have been taking over the cities and rural areas.
These two very dangerous groups of people have been threatening some people and killing others.
Many families have to pay to guarantee a safe life. If a family can not pay, they have to escape their
homeland. The cartels and gangs ruined many families and traumatised many more. The citizens
need help but, not from only themselves. The government needs to help and realize that there is a
problem that can ruin their country. The government needs to take ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Both the Mara and Zetas have come to Guatemala because the Mexican government. The Mexican
government has been cracking down on their country's drug issues. As the state trooper said this is
causing the cartels and gangs to push southward into Guatemala. Mexicans government once was
scared to take down the Zetas and Maras in fear for their life as well as their families lives.
Fortunately, they realized that something had to be done to save the country of Mexico. Now that
the Mexican government has taken charge it is Guatemala 's turn because the citizens can 't take on
the drug issues alone.
Many citizens of Latin America blame the United States of America for causing the violence and
drug problems. In the early 1990's, America passed a law that allowed any non–american to be
deported if they committed a crime in the US. This law applied to even the immigrants with
greencards staying legally in the United States. Los Angeles authorities used this new law to fight
their streetgangs. Many of these street gangs had Latin American influences. From 2001 to 2010
more then 100,000 of this gang members were shipped away. There was one huge problem! Many
of these members came to America as children so, in their home country they had no family, no
friends, no one. This meant they had to bond with each other. They only really knew one

Sin Nombre Social Conflict Theory
INTRODUCTION The movie I chose to do my movie analysis on was Sin Nombre. I chose this
movie because it stood out to me the most, mainly because of the title in Spanish. I used four
concepts while analyzing this epic movie. First I applied the power elite theory to see who had the
power in this power city and how they used their power. Then I used the social conflict theory to see
what caused the people to get into the gangs and how the gangs acted to the people. The
socialization theory is shown in the sense that the gang makes people believe that they are a part of a
family when they join. The last concept I used was deviance because of all the violence that
happened in the movie.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MOVIE
In Cary Fukunaga's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The authorities are rarely seen in this movie aside from the border patrol that catches Sayra, her
father, and uncle. Here we are shown how corrupt the police are when they tell everyone they catch
to strip down and give them all their valuables.
Social Conflict Theory: The Social Conflict Theory states that people who are put down tend to stay
down and be dictated by the force keeping them down. In the impoverished city in which this movie
takes place in we see that people are very needy and have no dignity. It is in towns like this that
many gangs find their burrows grounds and infiltrate these shanty towns to begin their cartels and
reigns of terror. Here the people do not like the MS13 gang, but cannot do anything about it because
they will be killed instantly. MS13 treat the people like dirt and freely rob, rape, and kill the people
whenever they feel like it.
Socialization: Socialization is when people are changed either at birth, due to their environment, or
an outside change. In the movie we see how young Benito gets involved with MS13 and gets
jumped into the gang. Here, in the MS13 gang, they instill in him their values, regulations, and
beliefs. Benito then feels like he is a part of something. They make Benito kill a rival gang member,
chop him up into pieces, and feed him to the dogs. After this task has been done he can be a real
member of MS13. MS13 makes Benito feel like he is a part of their twisted family when they name
him Smiley

Gangs And Their Role With The Violence
G H 456
Final Project Outline
Gangs and Their Role With The Violence In El Salvador
I. Introduction (1 page)
a. What defines gang activity? What do youths have to do with it?
i. Give the definition of gang activity, what it actually is compared to the world's stereotypical view
of members ii. Prevalence of gangs in the world iii. Youth involvement iv. Differences of gangs
across regions of el Salvador
v. The extent of member's participation (what does an average member do? What crimes do they
commit/not commit?) vi. Why there are youth in gangs vii. Why youth joins so early in the gangs
b. Area of Inquiry: El Salvador, Central America
i. Research in El Salvador is not bad, but the United States information of Salvadorans in the United
States is not complete/thorough ii. The effect of the civil war, and the event preceding the war iii.
Complexity of why people do certain things, like all psychological reasoning, is complex iv. Gang
violence affects the areas surrounding El Salvador as well; maybe look into how those areas are
affected?
v. Evidence that gang related violence can eventually be widespread throughout the entire world vi.
El Salvador is a small and poor country vii. Has a large population for small area viii. Faced many
natural disasters after the civil war, degrading the industrialization of the country ix. Geographic
location of el Salvador makes the landing spot for refueling plane that goes between Colombia and
the cocaine users in the US
c. Goal of paper

Gang Violence In Central America

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