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This week, we'll be watching a documentary on Gang Violence in Latin America, particularly MS-13, also known as "America's Deadliest Gang

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This week, we'll be watching a documentary on Gang Violence in Latin America, particularly MS-13, also known as "America's Deadliest Gang." MS-13 has become important for several reasons.

First, MS-13 shows us some of the long-term effects of America's troubled relationship with Latin America. At least according to some (usually Liberal) analysts, MS-13 was borne of the extreme poverty, corruption, violence, and collapse in El Salvador partly caused by the Proxy War between USA, the Soviets, and Cubans that you saw in Module 10.

Second, some (more Liberal) analysts claim that MS-13 members were "average" Salvadoran criminals who were "radicalized" by the alleged conditions of US prisons, deported back to El Salvador where they are pressured into working with Gangs and Drug Cartels, and made into hardened criminals in the process.

Third, MS-13 is important because some (usually Conservative) politicians -- as well as President Trump -- claim that dangerous MS-13 criminals are infiltrating the US through illegal immigration. Anti-immigration activists claim that MS-13 is part of the Migrant Caravans coming out of Central America into USA and begging for Asylum. While this is factual and undeniable, MS-13 criminals are a *tiny* fraction of the total illegal immigrant population.

As a result, MS-13 and alleged "immigrant violence" have played a huge role in shaping America's overall immigration policy in the Age of Trump.

Why Should I give a Crap?:

• because this is America's Deadliest Gang and is responsible for murder, sex trafficking, rape, and theft
• because at least according to some analysts, America's foreign policy is partly responsible for these problems
• to see how immigration, violence, and drug wars are GLOBALIZED and become a hemispheric problem

Concepts & Issues to Focus on:

• what role might America play in MS-13 and Gang Violence across Latin America?
• what role does the global War on Drugs or Mexico's Cartel War play in these problems?

Required Readings/Videos:

• skim about MS-13 murders in America, which Conservatives see as evidence that violent criminals are infiltrating otherwise peaceful (but illegal) immigration
• quickly skim a Liberal perspective that America is partly to blame for MS-13 and "Violent Animals" coming illegally to USA
• see how El Salvador's new "dictator-president" is allegedly working with Gangs to fight drug violence "with an iron hand"

• watch the full 30-minute clip of the Video below on MS-13, "America's Deadliest Gang" (if the Video doesn't load, click here; for Accessibility, see Transcript)

- Using *specific examples from the Articles & the Documentary,* what in your mind are the main factors to blame for making MS-13 grow into the deadly threat it is now?

(Hint: you can argue however you want, but don't be oversimplified like "this is America's fault," considering the role of corruption in El Salvador, gang-vs-gang violence, Cartel wars, etc....)