Threat of Street Gangs Causing Bitter Debate in Congress

News Max ^ | May 10, 2005 | Associated Press

[seastay]

NEW YORK -- The rapid spread of vicious street gangs such as MS-13 is causing alarm in cities and suburbs nationwide, igniting bitter debate about how best to combat the threat and inspiring a comprehensive anti-gang bill in Congress.

The measure is depicted by supporters as the only effective way to counterattack gang violence, and assailed by critics as an overreaction that could clog both federal courts and adult prisons with youthful offenders, most of them minorities.

Sponsored by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., the bill moved swiftly through the House Judiciary Committee last month and is scheduled for a House floor vote Wednesday. It would turn many gang-related violent offenses into federal crimes punishable by mandatory sentences of at least 10 years, expand the range of crimes punishable by death, and enable U.S. prosecutors to try 16- and 17-year-old gang members as adults in federal courts. "These aren't petty hoodlums," Forbes said. "They're cutting people's heads off, doing countersurveillance on police. ... They're trained in a type of violence we've not seen heretofore."

In Virginia recently, gang victims have been hacked by machetes and had fingers cut off. Affiliated gangs in Central America are suspected in several recent beheadings of young women.

The bill's supporters include the National Sheriffs' Association and the Fraternal Order of Police, the nation's largest law enforcement union. If approved, it would move to the Senate where Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) have introduced a bill combining tough anti-gang measures with new funding for crime prevention programs.

Opponents include numerous high-powered civil rights groups - the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and others. They cite FBI findings that serious youth crime is declining, say states - not the federal government - can best address the gang problem and worry about long-term consequences for teenage offenders sent to adult prisons.

"We too want to do something about gang violence," said Angela Arboleda of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights organization. "But punitive measures that lock up youths with adults is not a smart approach."

Arboleda says that Forbes' measure - which the congressman has nicknamed "The Gangbusters Bill" - "is one of the worst bills we've ever seen."

According to Forbes, street gang membership in the United States has grown steadily to more than 750,000, outnumbering police officers. He said a federal approach is needed because gangs like MS-13 - the Central American-influenced Mara Salvatrucha - have spread to many states.

"They're organized; they have a board of directors inside prison and outside prison," Forbes said. "Even while in prison, they recruit _ teens, even down to elementary school."

Critics of the bill say state and local police agencies could escalate the fight against such gangs under existing laws. They also say the Bush administration and Congress have cut back social programs that could deter youths from joining gangs in the first place.

"Because there are alarming stories about gang violence, members of Congress are under pressure from constituents to offer solutions," said Morna Murray of the Children's Defense Fund. "The fear makes it hard to focus on crime prevention. 'Tough on crime' sells, but it doesn't work."

The bill's opponents include some conservatives who question the concept of federalizing law enforcement tasks traditionally handled by states.

"It's better that it stays state law _ that's the true conservative position," said Rep. Robert Inglis, R-S.C., the only Republican opposing the bill when the Judiciary Committee approved it on an otherwise party-line vote.

Forbes said of Inglis, "He's a nice guy - but he's dead wrong."

"In the past, these gangs were in just one area - now they have networks across the country," Forbes said. "We want to create enforcement teams that will do six- or seven-month investigations, and then have trials that will bring whole networks down. States can't do that."

Federal statutes already target Mafia-style organizations. Forbes said his bill is needed because some judges and juries balk at applying such anti-racketeering laws to street gangs.

Among those testifying against the bill was Bob Shepherd, a retired law professor and former assistant attorney general in Virginia.

"The amazing thing to a lot of us was how it got on this fast track," Shepherd said. "They're trying to ramrod it through without a lot of deliberation."

He expressed alarm over provisions that would allow federal prosecutors to transfer 16- and 17-year-olds to adult court without judicial review and impose mandatory minimum sentences regardless of circumstances. Critics say the sentencing provisions could require an additional 24,000 prison beds over the next decade.

However, the Fraternal Order of Police said mandatory minimums are appropriate for gang offenders who tend to commit multiple violent acts.

"They're not deterred by the prospect of 90 days on the state farm," union executive director Jim Pasco said.

[texassizednightcrawler]

I once had a young hispanic boy show up at my door asking for money for an after school program to keep him off drugs and out of gangs. He looked shocked when I looked at him and said "Can't you do that on your own"? Never dawned on him at all.

[Rane _H]

You're right about some of them, especially the leaders. However from what I've seen, a lot of these kids just need some discipline and to be SEPARATED from the rest of their hoodlum peers. The whole reason for these gangs is the pack behavior you see in groups of wild animals. Once they are separated and made to follow rules(but not abused, as that causes them to group and rebel) they can be quite civil and productive. Also, instilling a work ethic and showing them the rewards of hard work can turn just about anyone around and onto the right path. Just my experience though, may not be accurate. :)

[dennisw]

The terminal phase of our loosey goosey immigration policies. We are perceived as weak, as a great place to come to and commit crimes. If things get really hot you flee back to your SOTB spawning ground.

[janetgreen]

Never dawned on him at all.

Nope, he's been indoctrinated to believe that the "gubmint" will take care of everything. I see little evidence anymore that parents are teaching their children much about personal responsibility.

[Americanexpat]

Sounds good and I respect your opinion.

Maybe in the 1930s - 1940s when the had the CCC (someone older than me probably knows what that was). The government took young men into work camps taught them discipline, put them to work on government projects and paid them too, that would have worked.

These kids are criminals almost from the beginning and I have seen the same gang mentality here in Panama and teenage rapists, murderers and thieves grow into adulthood, if they are not killed before, and continue a life of crime, often forming their own gangs.

I have to agree with most of the other posters we don't have the time to play social games with these thugs. We have to seal our borders and start deporting these people back to Mexico. How many thousands more Americans have to killed or victimized by these criminals before we get serious about solving the problem?

[little jeremiah]

Kick the non-citizens out, and beat the others publicly. Acutally, beat them all publicly, and then kick the non-citizens out.

Public beatings are the only thing that will fix it. Oh, if they're murderers, execute them.

[SunnySide]

In Virginia recently, gang victims have been hacked by machetes and had fingers cut off. Affiliated gangs in Central America are suspected in several recent beheadings of young women.

---

This is what happens over time when too many third world uneducated people filter into America. This is also what happens when too many neglected unattended poverty level kids grow wild in the streets thus the start of generations reverting back to tribal like third world mentality. They're actually devolving back into a primitive form of being.

[Fester Chugabrew]

"We too want to do something about gang violence," said Angela Arboleda of the National Council of La Raza . . .

Well, Angela, what do you propose? What have you done so far to assist in fighting gang crime? Unless you have a clear, sensible answer to these questions I shall consider your voice as one to be ignored.

[tet68]

Remember, one of the strategies of communism is to
terrorize the populace by allowing criminals to prey
on them. Interesting that liberals, would want to avoid doing any thing that would erode a criminals "rights".

[Fester Chugabrew]

National Council of La Raza
Raul Yzaguirre Building
1126 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 785-1670

Write or call these people to ask how they propose to help in stopping gang related crime, and how they can be more effective than law enforcment.

[bvw]

The caption is wrong. The idiotador hace performienta una self-castration.

[SunnySide]

Interesting that liberals, would want to avoid doing any thing that would erode a criminals "rights".

---

Especially considering that when the criminal gangs become too large to deal with they will mow through anybody who gets in their way including liberal imperialist$. The Liberals gated security camera estates won't stop them either.

[NRA2BFree]

They will only murder the people that Americans won't murder.

Yep, unfortunately, they're murdering our families and friends. It makes me sick to see them flooding over the border into America, and few in DC really care...

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is an exact quote:
===
===

http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/metro051205.htm

News Release

May 12, 2005

ICE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ANNOUNCE THE ARREST OF 95 CRIMINAL ALIEN GANG MEMBERS IN NEW YORK METRO AREA
33 arrests this week; all are placed in removal proceedings

NEW YORK -- Martin D. Ficke, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York; Martin F. Horn, Commissioner, New York City Corrections and Probation and William McBride, Deputy Chief, Yonkers Police Department announced today the arrest of 95 criminal alien gang members, including 33 this week, all of whom are now facing removal from the United States.

The arrests are the culmination of a joint four-month investigation conducted by ICE, NYC Department of Probation, Yonkers Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies that targeted criminal alien gang members residing in New York City, Yonkers and Long Island.

The ICE initiative in New York called “Operation ICE Cage” was launched in January and falls under the umbrella of ICE’s nationwide anti-gang initiative called “Operation Community Shield.” To date, Operation Community Shield has led to the arrest of hundreds of different gang members nationwide, including more than 200 members of the street gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).

Operation Community Shield is designed to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute violent gang organizations by employing the full range of authorities and investigative tools available to ICE. Under this initiative, ICE is employing its broad immigration authorities (both criminal and administrative) against gang members, as well as its customs authorities in targeting narcotics smuggling, money laundering, and in seeking the forfeiture of assets. This initiative involves strong partnerships and cooperation with existing federal, state, and local anti-gang efforts.

“It’s well documented that violent gangs pose a significant threat to the public safety of New York,” said Ficke. “This initiative leverages an array of law enforcement efforts with the common goal of removing criminal alien gang members from the United States and eliminating their ability to continuously re-victimize our communities.”

"We are pleased to be working once again with ICE to remove dangerous criminals from the streets of New York,” said Horn. “New York City is the safest big city in America. When these probationers are deported, it will be an even safer place for everyone."

The criminal alien gang members arrested today had prior felony or misdemeanor convictions for various offenses including assault, attempted assault, sexual misconduct, criminal sale marijuana, criminal possession of a weapon, drug sales and drug possession, gang assault, promoting prostitution, criminal possession of stolen property, and robbery.

All fugitives were in the country illegally and will now be placed in removal proceedings. Countries of origin for those arrested today include Dominica, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru.

This week’s enforcement action began Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. and ended today at 10:00 a.m. Arrests were made within the five boroughs of New York City, Yonkers, Nassau County and Suffolk County. Special Agent Ficke praised the ICE special agents and officers from ICE Detention and Removal, ICE Federal Protective Service, NYC Probation Department, Yonkers Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department and Nassau County Police Department. Gangs Targeted:

MS-13
CRIPS
CARNALITO
CHOLOS
LA RAZA
SOMBRA NEGRA
LOS VAGOS
CACHONDOS
LA PRIMERA
LATIN BOYS
VATOS LOCOS
CRAZY HOMIES
MEXICAN MAFIA

—ICE—

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.




Last Modified 05/12/2005