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Previously, violent street gangs were primarily found in large cities. However, they now have an impact on public safety, community image, and quality of life in communities of all sizes across the United States.
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Gangs affect society by increasing fears for safety, promoting violence, and causing economic costs. The issue of gang proliferation is significant in the United States with an estimated 29,400 gangs and 756,000 gang members spread throughout the country. Additionally, there are many gang members illegally entering the United States from Central America.
While each gang may have some differences, they generally meet the common definition of a group of three or more individuals engaged in criminal activity who identify themselves with a shared sign or name. Drug-related activities involving gangs are particularly problematic in the United States" (Barbour 9).
Modern gangs focus mainly on making money through drug smuggling and sales, rather than seeking control or power. Gang-related activity and violence related to illegal drugs is widespread throughout the United States. To effectively address gang activity, it is essential for the country to completely stop the trafficking and distribution of drugs from Central America into the U.S. This can be accomplished by consolidating government agencies at different levels to hinder gang infiltration and growth. Moreover, localized prevention programs and organizations should be established to address urgent community issues.
Gangs are smuggling drugs across the U.S. borders, posing significant challenges for the government. The primary source of drugs originates from Central America, where the largest concentration of gangs is located.
Many gangs focus solely on smuggling drugs into the U.S., as it provides a consistent income source. This illegal activity is particularly attractive to young individuals seeking financial stability, leading to a rapid increase in gang membership.
According to Farah, transnational gangs can be found in over 300 cities and 40 states, presenting a serious threat to national security. The most dangerous gang in the U.S., Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), actually originates from El Salvador, which has the highest gang population in Central America. Other countries infested with gangs include Guatemala and Honduras.
The U.S. alone has approximately ten thousand MS-13 members, while Central America has around forty thousand members, and these numbers continue to rise. MS-13 recruits members at a young age, contributing to steady growth in membership. Young individuals facing difficulties at home are attracted by the allure of better family and sense of brotherhood offered by MS-13, along with financial incentives.
To solve this problem, it is crucial to address MS-13's drug distribution from Central America.
The drugs have a significant impact on society, exacerbating existing problems and contributing to violence within gangs. Gangs are inherently violent, but the presence of drugs intensifies this violence to an uncontrollable level. The American society despises gangs but still supports the drug trade, perpetuating the difficulty in addressing the issue. Drugs infiltrate all aspects of American society, from various businesses to high-profile murders involving celebrities like Tupac Shakkur and Biggie Smalls. These iconic rappers fell victim to gang-related violence due to the pervasive influence of drugs. The entanglement of drugs and violence in society makes their eradication a challenging task that calls for a solution to be found.
Various processes are currently being implemented to combat the issue of gang smuggling and trafficking in the Arizona Corridor. One of these initiatives is IIMPACT Arizona, a multi-agency project managed by GIITEM (Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission). The goal of IIMPACT Arizona is to address the increasing crime associated with illegal immigration in this notorious location. This program, known as "Illegal Immigration Prevention and Apprehension Co-op Teams" (IIMPACT), involves collaboration among local, state, and federal police forces to counter organized smuggling by criminal groups.
The primary objectives of IIMPACT Arizona are to deter, disrupt, and dismantle gangs involved in illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the U.S. If successfully implemented, this initiative would effectively shut down one of the major hotspots for gang smuggling. Currently active, IIMPACT Arizona has the potential to significantly decrease the amount of drugs entering the U.S. by preventing gangs from smuggling across its borders.
The U.S. government's efforts to pass laws targeting gangs have been met with legal challenges due to concerns about the civil liberties of those being prosecuted. In response to increasing gang violence in the early 1980s, Los Angeles judges began issuing gang injunctions, which involved restraining orders against specific gang members by the city attorney's office. These injunctions required evidence from police officials and the public. However, in 1987, the ACLU opposed these injunctions due to potential violations of individual civil rights. The passage of laws addressing gangs consistently faces obstacles related to civil liberties whenever the government attempts crackdowns. Some of these laws allowed law enforcement officers to treat gang members with hostility, resulting in infringements on their rights. In 1994, the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act was passed to further tighten control over gangs by imposing stricter penalties for their crimes. This aimed at discouraging illegal activities among gang members. Notably, penalties for gang members were significantly harsher than those for ordinary individuals who committed similar offenses.Legislators and law enforcement officials share the belief that enacting laws is an effective measure to address gang activities. By implementing stricter penalties, it is believed that individuals would be discouraged from engaging in drug smuggling, consequently leading to a reduction in the circulation of drugs. It is crucial to completely eradicate drug trafficking in order to successfully control gangs and mitigate the resulting violence.
The solution to this problem requires time and effort, but it will be effective. More groups and programs need to be created to combat drug smuggling and gang violence. Additionally, it is essential to reach out to younger kids early on to prevent them from joining gangs. Establishing localized programs can help reduce smuggling in specific areas, eventually eliminating it altogether. Extensive research only identified one successful program focused on gang involvement in the area called IIMPACT. This program's success is attributed to the collaboration between town police, state police, and federal police. Sharing information across these levels is crucial for success. A joint effort yields better results than individual efforts. If different levels of government enforcement along the border can collaborate and work together, drug smuggling can be immediately reduced. According to "In The Spotlight," combining different agencies has proven that gang violence and gangs, in general, can be controlled or significantly reduced. Increasing the frequency of such collaborations can be the long-awaited resolution to this problem.
The issue lies within the gangs, but the root problem revolves around American educational institutions and the environments provided for children. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), laws alone will not solve the problem; instead, the focus should be on creating the right environment for kids. Enforcing numerous laws may prevent a child from fully participating in a street gang, but they are more likely to join a gang while in prison due to the prevalence of prison gangs. By attempting to solve one issue, these laws would only result in another problem emerging. Smith's article "Gangs: Outlooks" suggests that by offering younger kids better opportunities in their community and creating a more favorable environment, they would be less inclined to join gangs. Organizations like ACLU are working to prevent the problem before it arises, which is the most effective approach in this situation. If the number of gang members decreases, gangs will lose their power and influence in surrounding communities. Consequently, there will be a decline in drug smuggling and the issue will eventually cease to exist.
Gang activity and violence, primarily fueled by illegal narcotics, pervades the United States daily. To effectively tackle this issue, the nation must halt the smuggling and trafficking of drugs from Central America into the U.S., employing a collaborative approach that involves various government agencies at different levels. This action aims to prevent gangs from infiltrating and expanding within the country, while also implementing localized programs and groups to address urgent matters. The evidence presented underscores the extensive harm caused by gangs in the U.S., with drug smuggling from Central America being the primary root cause. This bears significant importance, as current and potential strategies hold promise for resolving this immense problem. Going forward, one can anticipate the introduction of further legislations and initiatives that, regardless of their implementation, will positively contribute to curbing gang-related issues in the U.S. Notably, gangs were first established in New York in the early 20th century, specifically in 1928. Therefore, resolving this problem could mark a historic shift after a century of gang prominence in the U.S., potentially inspiring other nations to combat gangs on a global scale.If proper actions are implemented, it is possible to completely eradicate the issue of gangs in the U.S. Consequently, we would finally witness a period in which the U.S. is free from both gang and drug problems, which has not occurred in quite some time.
Work Cited
Barbour, Scott, ed. Gangs. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2002. Print.
Farah, Douglas, and Pamela Phillips Lum. "Central American Gangs and Transnational Criminal Organizations." Strategycenter. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.
"Gang and Immigration Enforcement." AZDPS. Arizona Department of Public Safety, 2013. Web. 10 Apr .2013.
"In the Spotlight: Gangs." National Criminal Justice Reference Service.U.S.Department of Justice ,7 Sept .2012.Web .10 Apr .2013
Smith,Pamela K."Gangs".Issues :Understanding Controversy and Society.ABC-CLIO ,2013.Web .25 Apr .2013
Smith,Pamela K."Gangs: Outlook".Issues :Understanding Controversy and Society.ABC-CLIO ,2013.Web .25 Apr .2013
The Impact of Gangs and Drug Trafficking in the U.S.. (2016, Feb 28). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/gang-violence-essay
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