In 2009, there was a constant flow of alarming reports in the news media of murder and violence at the hands of Mara Salvatrucha-13 and M-18, not only in the United States, but also in El Salvador and Spain. The most recent and famous victim in the last few weeks, French-Hispanic photographer, Cristian Poveda, author of the documentary about Mara 18 “La vida loca,” the crazy life, has set off the alarms again.
Mara Salvatrucha has become an international organization with a presence in Central America, Spain and 43 U.S. states. To get a better idea of their reach and danger, we must examine some information: in Los Angeles alone, there are between 5,000 and 8,000 identified members of MS-13; there would surely be many more counting the remaining unidentified members outside the penitentiary system. In total, there could be more than 50,000 members of MS-13 in the United States alone, and more than 100,000 worldwide. Their presence is especially worrisome in California, New York, Texas and the metropolitan area of Washington D.C.

What began as a Salvadoran immigrant gang in the Rampar neighborhood in western Los Angeles at the beginning of the 80s, has become one of the worst criminal gangs. Currently the ranks of Mara Salvatrucha include American citizens, children of second and third generation immigrants who terrorize, kill and mutilate those who refuse to respond to common gang practices of blackmail and threats with the desired amount of money.
This type of gang (Maras, Bloods, Crips…) puts our cities in danger. Because of gangs’ illicit activities centered around drug trafficking, people trafficking, arms trafficking, robbery, assault, the extortion of immigrants and all types of organized crime, many neighborhoods are no longer safe places to live. Likewise, the Mara have converted international terrorism into another tool to help them achieve their purposes by implying possible associations with terrorist groups; whether or not these associations really exist, gangs are an obvious risk for national security.

One of the great challenges the United States is currently facing is controlling Mara and other gangs, and keeping them off the streets. Currently, there are 20,000 gangs in the country, this number clearly reflecting the seriousness of the situation. These gangs put us all at risk, but are especially dangerous in many neighborhoods where there is a Hispanic presence, as these neighborhoods are producing the majority of the young people who arrive at a dead-end, and see joining a gang as a way out.
One of the characteristics that is emphasized in Mara, is women’s power and control in the organization. Often far more brutal and cruel than the men, these women benefit from a privileged position in the organization achieved through money and sex that allows them to pull the strings from behind the scenes.

Legislation concerning gangs and the reduction of their numbers has become a priority due to the increasingly perilous situation. Politicians who aspire to improve the lives of citizens in general and of Hispanics in particular, must propose effective measures that distance or eliminate the problem of gangs in their neighborhoods and homes. In order to achieve this goal, the following measures are absolutely necessary: stronger and harsher punishment, increased police authority, and better methods to combat these gangs, that arm themselves and act freely, threatening the safety of the neighborhoods and cities where they are found.
The problem of gangs has been transformed in a violent epidemic that is destroying American cities and neighborhoods and fighting them as hard as we can, must be a priority.
In California, it’s estimated that there are more than 171,000 young people in gangs, in Los Angeles alone. Across the nation, it is estimated that there could be more than 800,000 gang members.

violence must be part of the political program of any politician that aspires to improve the situation. In this sense, the alternatives that liberal-conservatives defend are those that offer the most viable answers to end this problem. These politicians must attend to the needs of Hispanics and their communities, providing them with increased safety in their neighborhoods, bring education and opportunities to immigrants and recover traditional values like family and community integration. The lack of these elements in some parts of the Hispanic community is behind the current social break-down and the loss of young people to gangs.
In summary, more police, yes, stronger and fairer laws, yes, but with them, better education and more values, these are the remedies to alleviate the current situation.