American Gangs, MS-13, And Immigration

     The United States has an enormous gang problem. Gangs are in control of vast low income neighborhoods throughout the country. Gangs are in control of many public housing projects. Gangs are in schools. Gangs run many jails and prisons. Gangs make enormous sums of money from the drug trade. In many areas, gangs run the drug trade. Many gangs are well armed. Guns are an easy thing to get in the United States. There are gangs with arsenals that far exceed that of police departments. There are terrorist and extremist organizations that have alliances with certain gangs.There is a lot of money to be made from drugs and these alliances are lucrative.

      Many children and young people grow up in areas in the United States where gangs are a major, or the major, socializing influence. None of this is new information. Gangs have been around for a long time. 

       Politicians, police officials and others gain political points when they talk tough about gangs. This also has been going on for a long time. It gains them not only political points, but also good media coverage. Afterall, there is no one that will argue that gangs are a good thing or that gangs should be supported.

       The many years of ineffective approaches to gangs, the many years of tough talk and simplistic solutions, the many years of tough talk mixed with blind eyes to this dark underbelly of America, have assisted gangs in expanding and growing.

        When the government has aggressively pursued the destruction of one gang, scoring political points and publicity, what is not reported is who becomes the beneficiary of such action. Taking down one gang strengthens their rival(s). People might think one gang is less vicious than the next, but such is not the case. When the government aggressively pursues one gang's destruction, it is almost as if the government is on the payroll of that gang's enemies. 

         There are many things that can be done to weaken gangs, not just one gang (which requires a much lengthier discussion).   

          The government wants to blame gangs on illegal immigration. Once again, simplicity and scoring political points are pursued over reality.

          American gangs are a wholly owned American creation. Even the notorious MS-13 originated on the streets of Los Angeles. If instantly all of MS-13 disappeared, there would be no less of a gang problem in the United States. MS-13 did not invade the United States from Central America. MS-13 originated in the United States, and then spread the virulent disease of American gangs and American gang culture into several Central American countries.

          The United States should focus its immigration efforts on removing criminals that are illegally in the United States. But blaming immigrants for America's gang problem is counterproductive.

          The United States must also be aware that the spread of the pathological American gang culture to countries outside of the United States destroys other countries, and results in new waves of desperate people fleeing their native lands to escape the violence. 

           The irony is that deporting MS-13 and other gang members and criminals contributes to illegal immigration and the destruction of law and order in other countries. Therefore, all efforts to destroy MS-13 and other gangs cannot stop at the borders of the United States. Other countries need American assistance to combat the United States created gangs that are destroying their nations.

                  The United States must choose law and order over political grandstanding. Illegal immigration did not create the American gang problem. The American gang problem, now that it has spread outside of the United States, contributes to illegal immigration. Decent people do not want to live in neighborhoods, in communities, in cities and in countries controlled by gangs. American gangs and American gang culture is spreading, fueled by drug money, and there is still no serious effort to stop it.