As illegal immigration spreads, so do dangerous gangs

Dave Gibson, Immigration Reform Examiner

January 20, 2012

Barnstable, MA – On Wednesday, police arrested MS-13 gang member Martir Lemus, 28, of El Salvador on an outstanding warrant for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The arrest came after a two-week joint investigation by the Barnstable Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement into increased gang activity in the village of Hyannis.

Lemus is in the country illegally and is being held on an ICE detainer.

Along with Lemus, four other illegal aliens were also taken into custody and are also being held on ICE detainers.

MS-13 (or Mara Salvatrucha) was formed by Salvadoran, mostly illegal immigrants in the 1980’s, during El Salvador’s civil war. While the gang was originally made up exclusively of Salvadorans, they now accept all Central Americans as well as Mexicans. MS stands for Mara (slang for mob), Salva (El Salvador), Trucha (slang for on-guard).

MS-13 began in Los Angeles and as members moved deeper into the country, more loosely structured gangs or cliques were formed. However, these cliques continued to communicate with one another, and the network was formed.

One Old Vet

As illegal immigration spreads, so do dangerous gangs - National Immigration Reform | Examiner.com