Violent gang members arrested in the Spa city
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August 05, 2009 9:49 PM
Sera Laganelli

Who knew there were violent gang members living in your back yard?

Three men in Saratoga Springs were arrested on immigration violations, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE spokesperson Harold Ort said that the three men were arrested as part of the ICE community shield program that targets gangs.

A statement released by ICE says that two of the three aliens arrested with associated with a violent gang called Mara Salvatrucha or more commonly known as MS-13.

ICE considers MS-13 to be one of the most violent and rapidly growing transnational street gangs.

The FBI profiles the gang as mostly Salvadoran nationals or first generation Salvadoran-Americans, but also Hondurans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and other Central and South American immigrants.

An FBI assessment of MS-13 says that they are extremely violent and engage in a wide range of criminal activity including drug distribution, murder, rape, prostitution, robbery, home invasions, immigration offenses, kidnapping, carjackings/auto thefts, and vandalism.

And even scarier, the FBI says that MS-13 members often target middle and high school students for recruitment, and members often work for legitimate businesses by presenting false social security numbers.

ICE says that two of the three aliens arrested remain in custody and one has been released on bond. It is unknown if the man released was a member of MS-13.

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