After four recent killings last month linked to MS-13 gang violence on Long Island, Governor Cuomo announced that federal and local law enforcement will be sharing intelligence and assets that will help them eradicate MS-13 strongholds. A special New York State Police task force has been specifically designed to find, prosecute and remove the gang from New York. The FBI has created six new positions to aid in this as well. "The recent rash of gang-related violence by MS-13 has threatened the safety of our communities," said Cuomo.
Based in El Salvador, MS-13 (also known as Mara Salvatrucha) first surfaced in the U.S.
in the 80's. At first, its only stronghold was Los Angeles, but its influence quickly spread to Texas, and over the past five years, to the East Coast. With at least 10,000 members in the United States, this gang's violence isn't logical at all. "Gang violence is usually means to protect economic crimes," said Suffolk Police Commissioner, Timothy Sini,"but MS-13 kills for fun, and these are extremely savage, brutal killings."
MS-13 is now considered a greater threat than ISIS to the United States. They prey on and recruit young, vunerable, non-english speaking Salvadoran immigrants that have crossed into the United States without parents, and promise them a family.
So, what's happening in New York?
Over the past eight months, nearly a dozen bodies have been found on Long Island linked to MS-13 violence (four in April alone.) Many more bodies have been found -- also suspected victims of the gang -- but there isn't enough evidence for conviction. U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, visited Long Island In April, promising the families of the victims that justice would be served.
The attention the government has given these cases has been significant, encouraging President Trump to talk more about immigration.
"We are putting MS-13 in jail and getting them the hell out of our country, President Trump told the press last week. "They are a bad group, and somebody said they are as bad as al-Qaida, which is a hell of a reference...we are out in Long Island cleaning out the MS-13 scum," said Tump.
The 11 known victims of MS-13 violence
Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas, both 15-years-old, were out on a walk in their neighborhood when four gang members jumped out of a car and killed them. The only link to the killing was that Cuevas got into an argument with one of the members at their high school in Brentwood. The remains of Oscar Acosta, 19, were found in a wooded area three days after Mickens and Cuevas were killed. Oscar had immigrated to Brentwood, NY from El Salvador when he was 16-years-old. Another set of remains belonging to Miguel Garcia Moran, 15, were found close to where Oscar Acosta's body had been recovered. Miguel had recently immigrated from Ecuador.
Dewann Stacks, 34, was taking a walk in a wooded area of Brentwood when he accidentally came upon an MS-13 meeting spot.
They killed him simply for spotting them. Suspected gang member, Jose Pena-Hernandez, 18, was also found dead in a wooded area of Brentwood. Authorities say he probably violated gang rules. Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla, 29, was gunned down inside a Central Islip deli. His parents currently live in El Salvador. Jefferson Villalobos, 18, Michael Lopez Banegas, 20, Jorge Tigre, 18, and Justin Llivicura, 16, were all found dead in a park in Central Islip, New York a few weeks ago. The case is ongoing.
