8.09.2005
MS-13: A Dual Burden
Unfortunately, the stabbings of six teenagers in two incidents at a Montgomery County high school and mall on Friday demonstrate that gang violence continues to infiltrate the youth of the DC area. Members of the gang Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, were responsible for the attacks. MS-13 was originally composed of Salvadoran immigrants to Los Angeles in the 1980s, but now has broad membership throughout the country with ties to gangs in Central America.
El Salvador is one of the countries most afflicted by gang violence, and not surprisingly, the DC area has one of the largest Salvadoran populations in the United States. Official census numbers indicate approximately 100,000 Salvadoran immigrants in the area, but undocumented immigrants would account for at least double or triple that amount. Thus, it is an encouraging sign that Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan is to embark on a three-day trade mission to El Salvador, where he plans to bring up the gang issue in meetings with government officials and business executives.
Duncan's trip will be the first official visit by a county official to El Salvador, and it could not have come at a more appropriate time. Cooperation between governments is crucial in tackling the complex issues of youth gangs, and it starts with law enforcement agencies at the county level. In addition, Duncan will be sure to benefit from witnessing the reality of El Salvador firsthand: he is scheduled to visit some of the more impoverished parts of the country. I hope that his experience will heighten his awareness to the challenges that immigrants face in leaving their homelands.
El Salvador is one of the countries most afflicted by gang violence, and not surprisingly, the DC area has one of the largest Salvadoran populations in the United States. Official census numbers indicate approximately 100,000 Salvadoran immigrants in the area, but undocumented immigrants would account for at least double or triple that amount. Thus, it is an encouraging sign that Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan is to embark on a three-day trade mission to El Salvador, where he plans to bring up the gang issue in meetings with government officials and business executives.
Duncan's trip will be the first official visit by a county official to El Salvador, and it could not have come at a more appropriate time. Cooperation between governments is crucial in tackling the complex issues of youth gangs, and it starts with law enforcement agencies at the county level. In addition, Duncan will be sure to benefit from witnessing the reality of El Salvador firsthand: he is scheduled to visit some of the more impoverished parts of the country. I hope that his experience will heighten his awareness to the challenges that immigrants face in leaving their homelands.
# posted by Juanson : 5:28 PM
Comments:
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Christian,
interesting post about a subject that goes too unheralded in the news. Gangs seem to be like a disease that infect places replete with poverty, lack of education and leadership. I coudn't agree with you more that in order to combat it successfuly there needs to be a more collaborative approach, rather than the "outta sight outta mind" approach the United States has taken by deporting suspected gang members back to Central America even though they call the US home.
I also agree that Duncan is making a strong decision (also one that may help his bid for governor) in terms of combating this problem. And, he might leave with a lot more empathy as well.
Would you clarify your last statement in the article? Why would seeing impovershed areas of El Salvador "heighten his awareness to the challenges that immigrants face in leaving their homelands"? I fail to see the connection and even more, would it not be the opposite?
thanks,
Keith Huffman
interesting post about a subject that goes too unheralded in the news. Gangs seem to be like a disease that infect places replete with poverty, lack of education and leadership. I coudn't agree with you more that in order to combat it successfuly there needs to be a more collaborative approach, rather than the "outta sight outta mind" approach the United States has taken by deporting suspected gang members back to Central America even though they call the US home.
I also agree that Duncan is making a strong decision (also one that may help his bid for governor) in terms of combating this problem. And, he might leave with a lot more empathy as well.
Would you clarify your last statement in the article? Why would seeing impovershed areas of El Salvador "heighten his awareness to the challenges that immigrants face in leaving their homelands"? I fail to see the connection and even more, would it not be the opposite?
thanks,
Keith Huffman
# posted by 
: 11:36 PM
: 11:36 PM
I think that it's important for lawmakers in the U.S. to have an understanding of where their constituents are coming from. Too many American politicians have a superficial understanding of how the rest of the world lives. I think that this perspective would serve many decisionmakers well.
By the way, when you comment, you can click on "other" and write your name there, instead of posting anonymously. You don't have to register with blogger.
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By the way, when you comment, you can click on "other" and write your name there, instead of posting anonymously. You don't have to register with blogger.
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