Feds make more than 500 gang arrests

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 8/1/05 | Lara Jakes Jordan - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal authorities arrested 582 alleged gang members over a two-week period, officials said Monday, targeting an estimated 80 violent groups they say have spawned street crimes across the country.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called the gangs "a threat to our homeland security and ... a very urgent law enforcement priority."

Investigators picked up most of the offenders between July 16 and July 28 on immigration violations for being in the United States illegally. Seventy-six face criminal charges, ranging from illegal possession of a firearm to holding fraudulent documents.

"For too long, these gangs have gone unchecked - flouting all laws and demonstrating a blatant disregard for public safety," Chertoff said in announcing the arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. ICE is an arm of the Homeland Security Department.

Investigators targeted members in 27 states of what they considered to be the most violent street gangs, including Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13; Surenos; the 18th Street Gang; Latin Kings; the Mexican Mafia; Border Brothers; Brown Pride and numerous others.

Many of the arrests came in large urban areas, including 61 in Boston, 28 in Denver, and 23 each in Los Angeles and Detroit. But even smaller cities have been infiltrated by the gangs, the arrests showed, including 42 in Birmingham, Ala., and one each in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and North Platte, Neb.

The crackdown is part of ICE's ongoing "Operation Community Shield" campaign, targeting gang activity with other federal and state authorities. So far, ICE has made 1,057 arrests as part of the sting.

More than half of them have been members of MS-13, a street gang rooted in Central America where members have been known to behead enemies and attack with grenades and machetes. Federal officials estimate between 8,000 and 10,000 MS-13 members live in 31 states - the majority of them in the country illegally.

"We're just getting started," said ICE investigations chief Marcy Forman.

[CDHart]

It's about time --

Carolyn

[softwarecreator]

the majority of them in the country illegally

So now we don't have enough gang members, we have to import them?

[softwarecreator]

yep, how dare they single out these criminals who also happen to be here illegally?

I was I had as many rights as the illegals do.

[kellynla]

five hundred? ROFLMAO

Come to L.A.!

We've got ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND GANGBANGERS!

and if anyone is wondering what is being done about it?

NADA, NOTHING, ZIP, ZERO!!

[Stu Cohen]

Wow, they are finally doing something about these terrorists?

Hey, I just saw a pig fly by my window.

Don't worry, George W. will put a stop to the persecution of our guest terrorists who only do the terrorising that Americans are too lazy to do.

This is probably a one off. Or maybe a one month effort. Look for an executive order to stop it.

[Travis McGee]

"Investigators picked up most of the offenders between July 16 and July 28 on immigration violations for being in the United States illegally."

---

U.S. Constitution Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[millefleur]

Please tell me they won't just send them back across the border when (if) they are finally released from jail.

At least not until there is an actual obstacle at the border such as wall, guarded by armed patrols ready to shoot at anything trying to cross into the US.

[nightdriver]

"Hold your ears...here comes the accusation of profiling from the ACLU, LULAC, La RAZA and MEChA."

And the democRATs.

They will be irritated that there is no "gang summit" like the Clintoon administration had.

Rove is right.

[jocko12]

In 2 weeks we raid gang members again and get another 500 to deport.

[millefleur]

Please tell me they won't just send them back across the border when (if) they are finally released from jail.

At least not until there is an actual obstacle at the border such as wall, guarded by armed patrols ready to shoot at anything trying to cross into the US.

[Travis McGee]

And your mayor is 110% on the side of the criminal invaders, making LA the worst "sanctuary city" in the USA.

"Mayor MEChA:"

Read about how a pro-communist, ultra radical "MEChista" named Tony Villar cut his hair, changed his name, put on a tie, and became the mayor of America's second largest city.

[dsc]

When are they going to arrest the Crips and the Bloods?

[JohnnyZ]

I keep El Salvadorean beer in my fridge just in case my MS-13 neighbors get mad at me.

[softwarecreator]

In 2 weeks we raid gang members again and get another 500 to deport

And keep doing it until they are gone.

[varyouga]

"...Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13; Surenos; the 18th Street Gang; Latin Kings; the Mexican Mafia; Border Brothers; Brown Pride and numerous others."

Meh. Nuthin' to see here. These poor folks are just doing the crimes Americans won't do. Move along now.

[stocksthatgoup]

Send them to Gitma....The Summer Get Away Health Spa in the center of Death Valley.

[Youngman442002]

Hey...at least they used the word Illegal in the column...thats a start

[stocksthatgoup]

Gee, I thought it was Tony Orlando