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BROWNSVILLE
UTB Studies Impact of MS-13 Gangs in the Valley

Sep 11, 2006 01:42 PM PDT

Reported by Elizabeth Garcia

They are dangerous and even trained guerilla fighters, that was the point of Dr. Susan Ritter's seminar today.

The presentation grabbed the attention of students, community members and even law enforcement officials who all wanted to learn more about the Mara Salvatrucha.

"We can't talk about his gang as a juvenile or street gang any more. This day and age we're dealing with an extremely violent and well trained gang," Dr. Ritter said.

Dr. Ritter picked up this research last December after a number of MS-13 members were being arrested.

With the help from the Department of Homeland Security she found the speed at which this gang is gaining force.

Just this August, a 22-year old suspected member of MS-13 was arrested right in Brownsville.

They are now operating in 25 of 32 Mexican states and even committing brutal crimes right here in the U.S.

"There's no doubt that this is a point of entry area for gang members either returning to the country or coming for the first time, but most indicators are that they're moving through," she said.

They are moving to places like Houston, Dallas and even San Antonio, but for students who attended the seminar knowing that the valley is just a pit stop was still no comfort.

"Is it because the borders are open, if it has a lot to do with the border security are they not securing our borders?" Audrey Camacho asked.

Some criminal justice professors also pointed out that while the community cannot control it at least they can know enough to protect themselves.

"This is important to us as a community to be aware and at least understand what's going on around us," Professor Anastasia Lawrence said.

The border patrol has only found a total of 72 Mara Salvatrucha members here in the valley and most of the "cliques" of MS-13 have been found in larger cities.