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• Why is Violence Rebounding in Mexico? [November 8, 2017]

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  "Mexico's transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) have for years been identified as the greatest organized crime threat to the United States given their strong links to drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. These organizations also generate extreme violence within Mexico, where they exercise territorial influence in large swaths of the country near illicit drug production hubs and trafficking routes and particularly where the TCOs clash to assert or maintain dominance. Between 2008 and 2016, Mexico's homicide rate increased from 8 per 100,000 residents to 16.2 per 100,000. [...] In 2017, homicides have continued to spiral upward. Preliminary statistics for January through September show an increase of 20% to 30% over 2016. If this trend continues, Mexico will end the year with a homicide rate above 18 per 100,000, which would make 2017 its most violent year on record. A number of factors may be driving this spike in violence, including continuing fragmentation of the Sinaloa Cartel, competition to meet the burgeoning U.S. heroin demand, and ineffective law enforcement efforts against TCOs, such as the removal of key crime kingpins. [...] As drug-related crime began to climb in 2007, and drug gangs battled Mexican security forces and one another with increasing brutality, some strategies adopted by the Mexican government have not proven effective at least on a sustainable basis. [...] Some analysts are concerned that successful bilateral security cooperation, including extradition of criminals wanted on charges in the United States, may diminish due to tensions rising in other aspects of U.S.-Mexican relations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Beittel, June S.

  2017-11-08
• United States Attorneys' Bulletin: Human Trafficking, Volume 65 Number 6, November 2017

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  This edition of the United States Attorneys' Bulletin covers Human Trafficking. The following articles are included: "Human Trafficking: The Fundamentals"; "The Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU) and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS): An Overview"; "Proactive Case Identification Strategies and the Challenges of Initiating Labor Trafficking Cases"; "Domestic Child Sex Trafficking and Children Missing from Care"; "The Survivor-Centered, Trauma-Informed Approach"; "Chapter 77 and Beyond: Charging Strategies in Human Trafficking Cases"; "Whoever Knowingly Advertises: Considerations in Prosecuting Sex Trafficking"; "Federal Rule of Evidence 412: Admissibility of Prior and Subsequent Prostitution Evidence in Sex Trafficking Prosecutions"; "Follow the Money: Financial Crimes and Forfeiture in Human Trafficking Prosecutions"; "Mandatory Restitution: Complying with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act"; "Understanding and Applying the Sentencing Guidelines for Trafficking and Related Convictions"; "Evidence Considerations in Proving Sex Trafficking Cases without a Testifying Victim"; "Human Trafficking and Organized Crime: Combating Trafficking Perpetrated by Gangs, Enterprises, and Criminal Organizations"; "Criminal Conduct of Victims: Policy Considerations"; "Combatting Trafficking of Native Americans and Alaska Natives"; "Forced Labor in Supply Chains: Addressing Challenges"; and "Prosecuting Sex Trafficking Cases Using a Drug-Based Theory of Coercion."

  Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys

  2017-11
• First Responder's Toolbox: Terrorism Prevention--A Form of Violence Reduction

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  From the Document: "Terrorism Prevention, previously known as Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), is a multi-agency, multidisciplinary, proactive approach against the many forms of terrorist ideology. Terrorism Prevention works to protect our nation from terrorist threats, and remains our highest priority. It utilizes prevention, intervention, and disengagement efforts. The principles and strategies used in Terrorism Prevention are similar to those applied to community policing, counter-drug, and counter-gang initiatives. Where possible, Terrorism Prevention should be incorporated into existing programs related to public safety, public health, resilience, inclusion, and violence prevention."

  National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.)

  Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team

  2017-10-30
• First Responder's Toolbox: Acid Attacks: Potential Opportunistic Threat and Rapid Treatment Awareness

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  From the Document: "The number of criminal and gang-related assaults involving acid or other corrosive substances has risen sharply in some Western countries. As of July 2017, police statistics in England indicate assaults and threats involving corrosives have risen from 183 in 2012 to more than 500 this year, according to open source reporting. Although there has been minimal specific interest by terrorists in acid attacks to date, we judge the increase in criminal incidents coupled with recent English-language terrorist messaging encouraging attacks using acid may spur opportunistic terrorist use of the tactic, underscoring the potential threat and importance of an immediate on-scene emergency response."

  National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.)

  Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team

  2017-10-03
• Fact Sheet: H.R. 3697, The So-Called 'Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act' [website]

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  From the webpage: "H.R. 3697 expands the immigration grounds of removal by adding new grounds for 'gang members,' but the overbreadth would capture many individuals who have no involvement in gang activity whatsoever. A full fact sheet is available here."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Democratic Staff

  2017-09-14
• Oppose H.R. 3697, Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act [factsheet]

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  From the Factsheet: "H.R. 3697 creates new grounds of removal for 'gang members,' but the bill's overbreadth would capture many individuals who have no involvement in any gang activity whatsoever. The bill even allows for the denial of admission to individuals, including the immediate relatives of US citizens, based on the mere belief of an association with criminal activity."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Democratic Staff

  2017-09-14?
• United States Attorneys' Bulletin: Prosecuting Violent Crimes II, Volume 65 Number 5, August 2017

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  This edition of the United States Attorneys' Bulletin covers Violent Crimes. The following articles are included: "Transnational Gangs: Prosecution of an MS-13 Gang Member Extradited from Mexico"; "Prosecution of Criminal Organizations: A More Effective Means to Curbing Violence"; "Kings Only of Corners and Blocks: A Primer on Using the Historical Conspiracy Strategy to Address the Violence of Non-Traditional Leaderless Street Gangs"; "Investigating and Prosecuting Heroin Overdose Cases"; and "The Effective Use of a Criminal as a Witness: A Special Problem."

  Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys

  2017-08
• MS-13 Problem: Investigating Gang Membership, Its Nexus to Illegal Immigration, and Federal Efforts to End the Threat, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 21, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the June 21, 2017 hearing on "The MS-13 Problem: Investigating Gang Membership, Its Nexus to Illegal Immigration, and Federal Efforts to End the Threat," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "The topic of today's hearing involves the MS-13 crisis that's growing and spreading in communities across our nation. The atrocities of these criminals are not new. This group has existed since the 1980s, and has made a reputation for itself as a perpetrator of extreme-and often gruesome-violence. This organization has been dubbed the world's "most dangerous gang," and some say it could be a terrorist organization. But, you wouldn't expect anything less from a group whose motto is 'kill, rape, and control.' Unfortunately, over the past two years, this terrifying motto has become a vicious reality for many communities across our nation. So far this year, the gang has been publicly linked to dozens of high-profile killings, rapes, and assaults across the country, from the Washington D.C. metro area to Houston, Texas. Undoubtedly, there are many more that simply haven't been reported." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carla Provost, Scott Lloyd, Derek Benner, Matthew Albence, and Kenneth Blanco.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-06-21
• United States Attorneys' Bulletin: Prosecuting Violent Crimes I, Volume 65 Number 2, June 2017

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  This edition of the United States Attorneys' Bulletin covers Violent Crimes. The following articles are included: "'In for a Penny, In for a Pound'-Accessory Liability in Group Violence Cases"; "Witness Maintenance in Long-Term Violent Crime Cases"; "Hobbs Act Robbery"; "Victims, Terrorists, and the Scales of Justice"; "ATF [Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] Resources to Combat Violent Crime"; "Gang Experts: Best Practices and Avoiding Pitfalls"; "Operation Sudden Impact: The Effective Use of Federal and State Resources to Combat Gang Violence"; "A Uniform Approach to Mental Condition Evidence in Capital Trials: The Interplay Between Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 12.2 and 16"; "The Detroit One Violent Crime Reduction Initiative: How It Works and How Similar Programs May Benefit Your District"; "Investigating and Prosecuting Prison Gangs: BOP [Bureau of Prisons] Resources to Assist Federal Prosecutors"; and "National Gang Intelligence Center."

  Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys

  2017-06
• Border Insecurity: The Rise of MS-13 and Other Transnational Criminal Organizations, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 24, 2017

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  "This testimony compilation is from the May 24, 2017 hearing on 'Border Insecurity' held before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Ron Johnson: 'During the Committee's examination of America's unsecure borders we have learned how transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels exploit American policies and our lack of border security to advance their criminal agenda. Today we continue that important work by discussing how the street gang Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, and other Central American gangs affect communities throughout the United States.' Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Timothy D. Sini, Scott Conley, and J. Thomas Manger."

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

  2017-05-24
• Operation Martillo as a Tool to Reduce Drug Trafficking in the Northern Triangle Countries (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras)

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  "The Transnational Organized Crime that Central America is facing with drug cartels and criminal street gangs becomes a threat to the national security of the United States. The countries of the Northern Triangle of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have become the bridge and the base of operations for these criminal organizations that use land, sea and air routes to move the drugs through Mexico with the final destination the United States. Because of this threat, it is important to establish a good security cooperation program with the countries of the Northern Triangle, a program that includes training and equipment to be more effective in the fight against drug trafficking across their territories. The Northern Triangle countries need to be committed with the United States in their fight against drug trafficking and the transnational criminal organizations and they need to establish a partnership where there is mutual cooperation. Also, these countries need to work jointly with the United States agencies in this region to increase drug interdictions. The plan of Operation Martillo is important to achieve this strategy to reduce the traffic of drugs through the countries of the Northern Triangle." "A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Military Art and Science General Studies

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

  Ramírez, John H. (Army)

  2017-05-23
• Cartels and Gangs in Chicago

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  "Chicago has a long history of organized crime and is home to numerous street gangs that use the illegal drug trade to build their criminal enterprises. Although the murder rate in Chicago has declined significantly since the 1990s, recent instances of gang-related homicides have placed Chicago's crime situation in the national spotlight. Compounding Chicago's crime problem is a steady supply of drugs from Mexican drug cartels, most notably the Sinaloa Cartel. Illicit drugs flow from Mexico to Chicago via a loosely associated network of profit-driven intermediaries, with Chicago street gangs serving as the primary distributors at the street level. The profits earned through drug trafficking increase the staying power of both street gangs and drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), thereby influencing levels of violent crime in both the United States and Mexico. Of particular concern is the trafficking and distribution of heroin, which has increased significantly in recent years and caused significant harm to communities in Chicago and throughout the United States. This report provides background on the gang-related crime situation in Chicago and offers insight on the nexus between Mexican DTOs and Chicago street gangs."

  United States. Drug Enforcement Administration

  2017-05
• Restoring Enforcement of Our Nation's Immigration Laws, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 28, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the March 28, 2017 hearing, "Restoring Enforcement of Our Nation's Immigration Laws" before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the statement of Jessica Vaughan: "Obama administration policies left immigration enforcement in a state of collapse. Interior enforcement was systematically dismantled to a fraction of previous years, we experienced a surge of new illegal arrivals at the southwest border seeking to take advantage of catch and release policies and lenient rules for claiming asylum; and the size of the illegal population ticked upward again. The suppression of enforcement has imposed enormous costs on American communities in the form of lost job opportunities and stagnant wages for native workers, higher tax bills to cover increasing outlays for social services and benefits, compromised national security, and public safety threats. The Trump administration has begun using executive authority to restore enforcement in many important ways. But there is only so much that can be done by the president. Under our constitution, Congress is really the lead branch of government on immigration law, and action from Congress is necessary to fully address the most important weak spots in immigration control. Specifically, Congress needs to address the problem of illegal hiring; tackle the problem of sanctuaries; update the laws supporting gang-related enforcement; and reduce opportunities for executive abuse of authority on work permits, parole, deferred action, and other gimmicks that have been used to offer legal status to people not authorized by Congress." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas Hodgson, Jessica Vaughan, Andrew Arthur, and Archi Pyati.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-03-28
• Evaluation of San José 's Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force

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  "Since 2011, the City of San José's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) has partnered with Resource Development Associates (RDA) and Dr. Jeffrey Butts from John Jay College of Criminal Justice to conduct an evaluation of the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF). Since its inception, the MGPTF has gained widespread acclaim. In 2008, the National League of Cities and National Center on Crime and Delinquency recognized the initiative as a promising approach. In 2010, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention invited the City of San José to join as one of six cities in the nation working with federal agencies to share promising strategies and identify opportunities for federal agencies to enhance support local efforts. Despite this acclaim, there has not been a comprehensive, rigorous evaluation of the Task Force to shed light on the factors that have made it successful over time, nor to examine its impact on the community. This evaluation responds to that need by examining (1) the evolution and implementation of the MGPTF over 20 years and (2) the associations between MGPTF activities and youth outcomes and gang violence over 20 years."

  National Criminal Justice Reference Service (U.S.)

  2017-02
• S. Hrg. 113-854: Review of the President's Emergency Supplemental Request for Unaccompanied Children and Related Matters, Hearing Before the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, Special Hearing July 10, 2014-- Washington, DC

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  This is the July 10, 2014 hearing on "Review of the President's Emergency Supplemental Request for Unaccompanied Children and Related Matters," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Barbara A. Mikulski: "So for today, the purpose of today's hearing is to examine the President's emergency request for the funding of $3.7 billion to address the crisis of children from Central America crossing our southwestern border by the thousands. Their situation is extremely dire. The United States of America has an obligation to deal with this emergency. These children are seeking refuge. They are seeking refuge from organized crime, despicable gangs, vile human traffickers who are exploiting and profiting from human misery and desperation, primarily in three countries-Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. They are willing to risk their lives in order to get away from the terrible violence. The President's emergency request totals $3.7 billion for caring for the humanitarian needs of the children; detention and enforcement at the border; identifying their legal status under our rule of law; and robust deterrence in the children's home country by going after and prosecuting the organized crime syndicates, the smugglers, the coyotes, and the traffickers." "Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Barbara A. Mikulski, Richard C. Shelby, Daniel Coats, John Boozman, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Jeh Johnson, Thomas A. Shannon, Juan P. Osuna, Patrick J. Leahy, Mary L. Landrieu, Mark Pryor, Jerry Moran, Mark Begich, Christopher A. Coons, Susan M. Collins, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Border Security and Enforcement, Detention and Custody, Screening, Ensuring Meaningful Access to Asylum, Humanitarian Relief and Due Process, Church World Service, U.S. Must Ensure Protection of Unaccompanied Children and Adequate Funding for Refugee Resettlement, Episcopal Church, Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc., Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Partner Caucus, First Focus Campaign for Children, HIAS, Jewish Statement on Unaccompanied Children at the United States-Mexico Border, Human Rights First, International Rescue Committee, Kids in Need of Defense, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, National Immigrant Justice Center (Heartland Alliance), Forced Migration: Unaccompanied Children Flee Increasing Violence and Danger in Central America, Fair and Efficient Hearings: the Importance of Legal Counsel for Unaccompanied Children, Emergency Supplemental Request: Misguided Allocations for Enforcement and Deterrence, Retaining Critical Due Process Protections for Children in Times of Crisis: The Importance of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), Record of Refugee Council USA, Tahirih Justice Center, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, USCRI Data on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, USCRI's Six Policy Solutions, and Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Serial No. 115-20: Combating Gang Violence on Long Island: Shutting Down the MS-13 Pipeline, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 20, 2017

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  This is the June 20, 2017 field hearing on "Combating Gang violence on Long Island: Shutting Down the MS-13 Pipeline," held before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Peter T. King: "[..] MS-13 is a morally depraved, transnational murderous gang which terrorizes innocent people. The acts of violence connected to transnational gangs, specifically MS-13, have drastically and dramatically increased in Suffolk and Nassau County over the past several years. Just in the last more than a year, there have been 17 murders in Suffolk County alone committed by MS-13, and this is something which cannot be allowed to continue. It is essential we have a full-scale National, State, and local effort to destroy and end the terrorism, the tyranny of MS-13. They in many ways have turned immigrant communities into a killing field, and it is primarily within the immigrant community that these vicious machete killings, brutal murders have been carried out, and these are good people who are often unheard and not listened to. [...] So it is essential that the word get out that it is important that there be cooperation with law enforcement because the bottom line is that the police and the FBI and Homeland Security can only do so much. The real information is going to come from people on the ground, and that is why it is vital that we establish that trust, that relationship, and that people in the community, leaders in the community encourage the people in the community to cooperate." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: William Sweeney, Jr., Angel M. Melendez, Timothy D. Sini, Vincent F. DeMarco, Thomas C. Krumpter, Michael Marino, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez, Howard M. Koenig, and Patrick Young, Esq.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• 2017 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide: Crime and Victimization Fact Sheets: Mass Casualty Shootings

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  "Mass casualty shootings are rare compared to other forms of homicide; however, due to extensive media and policy attention, as well as the number of people affected by each event, they are an important subset of crime. Measuring mass casualty shootings is complicated by the absence of a commonly recognized definition. Federal agencies define a mass casualty shooting as the murder of three or more individuals. Due to the rarity of these events, federal agencies do not collect data on mass shootings, but they do collect data on 'active shooters.' Active shooter incidents are defined as incidents where 'one or more individuals actively engage in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.' This definition does not include gang- or drug-related incidents, the accidental discharge of a firearm, or family- and intimate partner-related shootings. A majority of mass casualty research only accounts for people physically injured or killed, and discounts individuals who witnessed the shooting or were threatened by the shooter, even though they often experience psychological trauma as well."

  National Center for Victims of Crime (U.S.); United States. Office of Justice Programs. Office for Victims of Crime

  2017
• PRISM: A Journal of the Center for Complex Operations (Volume 7, No.1)

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  This edition of PRISM contains the following articles: "How to Prepare for State-Building" By Roger Myerson; "Is There a Path Out of the Yemen Conflict? Why it Matters" By Gerald Feierstein; "Leading the National Security Enterprise" By Ronald Sanders; "21st Century Intelligence--The Need for a One-Team-One-Fight Approach" By Leslie Ireland; "MS 13--From Gang to Political Force" By Douglas Farah; "The Curse of the Shiny Object--How We Fight Problems, Where They Are Visible and Why We Need to See Beyond" ;By Gretchen Peters "ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] Radicalization, Recruitment, and Social Media Operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines" By Nathaniel Moir; "Fighting for Legitimacy in Afghanistan: the Creation of the Anti-Corruption Justice Center" By Chad Brooks and Craig Trebilcock; "Developing a Western Logistics Course for Kazakhstan" By George Topic and Robert Brewer; "Learning from the Struggle to Assess Counterinsurgency and Stabilization Operations in Afghanistan" By Nathan White; and "Reinventing Social Science in the Military: Lessons Learned from the United States and New Zealand" By P.S. Lieber and W.S. Hoverd.

  National Defense University. Center for Technology and National Security Policy. Center for Complex Operations

  2017
• Assessing Venezuela's Political Crisis: Human Rights Violations and Beyond, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, May 8, 2014

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  This is the May 8, 2014 hearing on "Assessing Venezuela's Political Crisis: Human Rights Violations and Beyond" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Committee Chairman Robert Menendez: "Let me welcome today's panelists from the Department of State, Duke University, the Carnegie Endowment, and Human Rights Watch, which this week released a deeply troubling report on the scale of human rights violations in Venezuela, a report documenting human rights abuses far worse than I had anticipated. The report documents how Venezuelan security forces, often in collaboration with colectivos, armed pro-government gangs, have systematically violated the rights of students, women, men, members of the political opposition, and journalists. […] Today's hearing is an opportunity for us to understand what role the United States has played and should play, given the current crisis in Venezuela. […] We must also look at the future implications of the deteriorating political and economic conditions in Venezuela, and its potential impact on Caribbean and Central American nations that have benefited from Venezuelan subsidized oil shipments. Finally, we must assess the destabilizing role that Cuba is playing in Venezuela and the very real security challenges from transnational criminal enterprises operating in the country, as well as the signs of their collusion with members of the Venezuelan Government." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Roberta S. Jacobson, Tomasz P. Malinowski, Patrick D. Duddy, Moisés Naím, and José Miguel Vivanco.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Recycled Bricks: Exploring Opportunities to Reintegrate Returning American Foreign Fighters Using Existing Models

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  From the thesis abstract: "Foreign fighters have been engaged in conflicts for hundreds of years, but the sheer number of foreign fighters who travel to Iraq and Syria during the last five years is unprecedented. The United States is not sure what to do with American ex-foreign fighters who leave their group and want to return to the States and peacefully reintegrate back into society, since currently there is no reintegration program for ex-foreign fighters. This thesis explores how the United States can develop an ex-foreign fighter reintegration strategy using existing, analogous models. This study identifies two groups that possess similar characteristics to foreign fighters: U.S. street gangs and the U.S. military. Utilizing the conceptual frameworks of street gangs and the military, the conceptual life-cycle of foreign fighters is detailed to ascertain the practicality of developing a foreign-fighter reintegration program utilizing the existing reintegration programs of street gangs and the military. Based on the findings that foreign fighters, street gang members, and formerly deployed service members are very similar, I recommend the development of a multidisciplinary reintegration program for retuning [sic] ex-foreign fighters using specific aspects of each previously referenced reintegration program."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Scott, Edward Francis, III

  2016-12
• Understanding Pathways to and Away from Violent Radicalization among Resettled Somali Refugees

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  "The overall objective of the proposed project was to understand pathways to diverse outcomes among Somali immigrants: why do some embrace greater openness to violent extremism, while others with shared life histories move towards gangs, crime, or resilient outcomes such as civic engagement? To what degree do these outcomes overlap? In this project we empirically examined the principle of multifinality, or pathways leading from a shared refugee experience to multiple outcomes. Understanding these different trajectories, and the factors that shape an individual's progress towards diverse outcomes, provides critical information to local and state government agencies as they respond to the potential threat of domestic radicalization."

  United States. Office of Justice Programs

  Ellis, Beverley Heidi, 1972-; Bixby, Colleen; Miller, Alisa B. . . .

  2016-11
• Detention and Removal of Gang Members (Fiscal Year 2016 Report to Congress)

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  "This report was compiled in response to legislative language in Senate Report 114-68, which accompanies the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act (P.L. 114-113). Senate Report 114-68 states: The Committee remains concerned about increasing gang violence and criminal activity in many parts of our Nation and directs ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to continually track gang membership amongst fugitives, as well as the detained and non-detained populations. The Committee directs ICE, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this act, to submit a report to the Committee regarding the detention and removal of gang members. This report should include: (1) a State by State breakdown of the number of gang members detained, removed, or both detained and removed; and (2) the number of gang members detained, removed, or both detained and removed in the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The Committee will continue directing ICE to produce this report until data systems and procedures are capable of readily providing gang related information and other key attributes of aliens to Congress upon request."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2016-09-30
• Gangs in Central America [August 29, 2016]

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  "The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its main rival, the "18th Street" gang, continue to undermine citizen security and subvert government authority in parts of Central America. Gang-related violence has been particularly acute in El Salvador, Honduras, and urban areas in Guatemala, contributing to some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Congress has maintained an interest in the effects of gang-related crime and violence on governance, citizen security, and investment in Central America. Congress has examined the role that gang-related violence has played in fueling mixed migration flows, which have included asylum seekers, by families and unaccompanied alien children (UAC) to the United States. Since FY2008, Congress has appropriated funding for anti-gang efforts in Central America. Central American governments have struggled to address the gang problem. […]This report describes the gang problem in Central America, discusses country approaches to deal with the gangs, and analyzes U.S. policy with respect to gangs in Central America. Congressional oversight may focus on the efficacy of anti-gang efforts in Central America; the interaction between U.S. domestic and international anti-gang policies, and the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on law-enforcement efforts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2016-08-29
• Asset Seizure and Forfeiture: A Basic Guide

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  From the introductory paragraph on the Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Bulletin website: "State and local law enforcement agencies conduct investigations involving a variety of crimes, including many where gangs, drug traffickers, fraudsters, or other types of criminals aim to make a profit. But, how do investigators address these offenses when the perpetrators consider a prison sentence merely a cost of doing business--a brief respite from their regular lives--and know that they will return to their 'toys,' illegal profits, and high standards of living when released? To thoroughly explore the complex world of asset seizure and forfeiture, the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin presents this article in two parts. The first provides an introduction to the topic and gives readers a basic understanding of seizure and forfeiture, including common investigative techniques and best practices for law enforcement."

  United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation

  May, Colin

  2016-08-10
• Contemporary Security and Defense Issues in the Caribbean

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  From the Foreword: "The Caribbean is often overshadowed by other problems in the Western Hemisphere. To some degree, this is understandable. Drug-fueled violence from organized crime and local gangs have made Central America and Mexico some of the most dangerous places in the world. Remnants of communist insurgents continue to plague Colombia and Peru. Corruption charges threaten to unseat the President of Brazil as they have in Guatemala. Warming temperatures threaten the potable water sources for millions in Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. [...] The Perry Center has assembled a collection of essays regarding the contemporary security and defense challenges that face Caribbean nations. The essays examine a myriad of complex threats: corruption, loss of control of sovereign territory, organized crime activities, gangs, and drug trafficking. The essays also address problems that frequently don't generate as much attention as the violent activities of criminal groups: global warming, border disputes, and maritime boundaries."

  William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies

  Paterson, Patrick J.; Earle, Walter

  2016-08
• Youth Violence and Citizen Security in Central America's Northern Triangle

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  "Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, collectively known as the 'Northern Triangle' of Central America have consistently been ranked in the top five most violent countries in the world as defined by the per-capita intentional homicide rate. Honduras has topped this list every year since 2008, and in all three countries, the homicide rate has been increasing since 2004. The violence in this region has had a negative impact on development, undermining poverty reduction efforts, economic development, governance, health, and social and human capital. These issues also have significant negative impacts on the education system, the ability of youth (particularly young men) to find paid labor, and an overall fear of young men. The drivers of violence in these three countries are complex and interwoven. Gangs, organized crime, and narcotrafficking are certainly a serious threat in the region, though in some areas gangs offer a form of policing and protection that are otherwise inadequate or neglected by weak governments. Weak judicial, penal, and policing systems result in relative impunity for committing crimes, and in many cases, these systems are directly or indirectly involved in violence. Issues of rapid urbanization, high unemployment, high levels of school dropout or non-participation, inequalities in social and economic opportunities, social exclusion of youth and marginalized peoples, and an acceptance of violence as 'macho' are but some of the drivers and risk factors associated with violence in the Northern Triangle."

  United States. Agency for International Development

  Williams, Rebecca

  2016-08
• Can Counter-Gang Models Be Applied to Counter ISIS's Internet Recruitment Campaign

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  "In 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) came to the attention of the world community due to its rapid takeover of territory in Iraq and Syria. Since then, ISIS has executed an Internet-based recruitment campaign directed at vulnerable populations worldwide, to include the United States, in order to recruit followers and encourage attacks within their homelands. Through utilization of American-based social media companies, ISIS has been able to reach its target audience in a manner that has frustrated U.S. counter-efforts due to the enormous size of the social media environment. Through an analysis of influencing and recruitment operations, a linkage is shown between vulnerable populations susceptible to gang and terrorist recruitment. Analysis of the gang and terrorist mitigation models used against these groups draws key distinctions between intervention and deterrence-based models. Selection of specific case study applications of the models facilitates answering the primary research question: can models utilized against gangs in the United States be applied to counter ISIS's Internet recruitment campaign? The conclusion is that a modified deterrence-based model can be applied to counter ISIS's Internet recruitment campaign. However, the model should be applied against the technology companies providing the communication medium for ISIS's messaging."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

  Hinz, Scott M.

  2016-06-10
• Honduras: A Pariah State, or Innovative Solutions to Organized Crime Deserving U.S. Support?

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  "The public protests against Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, which peaked in July 2015, highlighted perceptions of corruption by Hondurans of their President and his government, and fostered a new spirit of civic participation in Central America. Outside the region, less noticed is that President Hernandez has also made significant changes in the strategy and institutions of the country in combating the interrelated scourges of organized crime and violent gangs, which have plagued Honduras as well as its neighbors. That new approach, set forth in the administration's interagency security plan and Operation MORAZÁN, has produced notable successes. With U.S. assistance, the National Interagency Security Force (FUSINA) and the Honduran government dismantled the leadership of the nation's two principal family-based drug smuggling organizations, the 'Cachiros' and the 'Los Valles', and significantly reduced the use of the national territory as a drug transit zone, particularly narco flights. Murders in the country have fallen from 86.5 per 100,000 in 2011, to 64 per 100,000 in 2014. [...] This monograph focuses on the evolution of the transnational organized crime and gang challenges in Honduras, the strategies and structures of the Hernandez administration in combating them, associated challenges, and recommendations for the U.S. military and policymakers to support the country in such efforts."

  Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute

  Ellis, Robert Evan

  2016-06
• Serial No. 114-111: Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 28, 2016

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  This is the April 28, 2016 hearing on "Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security" held before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the statement of Sarah Saldana: "As Secretary Johnson has mentioned in previous congressional hearings, the Department is focused on the smart and effective enforcement of our immigration laws. Individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety, or who are arrested crossing the border illegally, are enforcement priorities, and ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is allocating enforcement resources accordingly, consistent with our laws. Day-in and day-out, Deportation Officers, Special Agents, and attorneys focus their efforts and resources on the removal of individuals who have been convicted of felonies, those who have been convicted of significant or multiple misdemeanors, those actively and intentionally engaged in gang activity, and recent border entrants. Today, I highlight the role the dedicated men and women of ICE play in the arrest, detention, and removal of individuals meeting the Department's enforcement priorities, and I am pleased to share some of ICE's recent initiatives and successes." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Sarah R. Saldana, Ralph Martin, Wendy Hartling, Scott Root and Chris Burbank.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016-04-28
• Escalating Violence in El Salvador [April 20, 2016]

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  "During 2015, El Salvador posted the world's highest homicide rate, 104 homicides per 100,000 people. Homicides, many gang-related, have trended further upward in 2016, with more than 2,000 killings recorded through March, including massacres, killings of police and their families, and extrajudicial killings of suspected gang members. El Salvador has the highest concentration of gang members in Central America. Many analysts assert that the government's tough anti-gang policies are worsening the violence; others maintain that the government has few policy options available. Escalating violence and political polarization in the country have inhibited U.S. and Salvadoran efforts to improve security and bolster growth."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2016-04-20