FBI: Threat From MS-13 Gang Escalating On National Level

Okay, so who exactly are the "MS-13" ? Let me use the article from FamilySecurityMatters to descbribe this gang:

Members of Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13, who are mostly Salvadoran nationals or first generation Salvadoran-Americans, but also Hondurans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and other Central and South American immigrants.

And what is it that MS-13 does? Again...a quote from the article:

MS-13 members perpetrate violence – from assaults to homicides, using firearms, machetes, or blunt objects – to intimidate rival gangs, law enforcement, and the general public. They often target middle and high school students for recruitment. And they form tenuous alliances...and sometimes vicious rivalries...with other criminal groups, depending on their needs at the time.

So why is MS-13 the focus of a post on Holger Awakens? Because simply this is home-grown terrorism, folks. This is not just some peon street gang in a section of Los Angeles. This "network" is spreading across the nation and according to the FBI, MS-13 is now in 42 states of the Union. And...they are perpetrating violence around the world, as well.
It's time to get prepared. It's time to cut these terrorists off at the ankles. And as a reminder, this is the gang that:

1. Inspired the defacing of the Vietnam War Vets Memorial in Connecticut
2. Assassinated a pregnant federal trial witness

You may not have know about MS-13 before today...but you will know more in the days and months ahead. Unfortunately.

Threat from Violent MS-13 Gang Continues to Escalate
Jim Kouri, CPP

They've severed the fingers of their rivals with machetes...brutally murdered suspected informants, including a 17-year-old pregnant federal witness...attacked and threatened law enforcement officers...committed a string of rapes, assaults, break-ins, auto thefts, extortions, and frauds across the U.S....gotten involved in everything from drug and firearms trafficking to prostitution and money laundering...and are sowing violence and discord, not just here in the U.S., but around the world.

MS-13 operates in at least 42 states and the District of Columbia and has about 6,000-10,000 members nationwide. Currently, the threat is highest in the western and northeastern parts of the country, which coincides with elevated Salvadoran immigrant populations in those areas. In the southeast and central regions, the current threat is moderate to low, but recently, we've seen an influx of MS-13 members into the southeast, causing an increase in violent crimes there.MS-13 members 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.
Most of these crimes, you'll notice, have one thing in common – they are exceedingly violent. And while most of the violence is directed toward other MS-13 members or rival street gangs, innocent citizens often get caught in the crossfire. MS-13 is expanding its membership at a "moderate" rate through recruitment and migration. Some MS-13 members move to get jobs or to be near family members – currently, the southeast and the northeast are seeing the largest increases in membership. MS-13 often recruits new members by glorifying the gang lifestyle (often on the Internet, complete with pictures and videos) and by absorbing smaller gangs.

Speaking of employment, MS-13 members typically work for legitimate businesses by presenting false documentation. They primarily pick employers that don't scrutinize employment documents, especially in the construction, restaurant, delivery service, and landscaping industries.