07/18/2007

News / Combating Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico

Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. today
announced the Strategy to Combat Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico
. Under this comprehensive strategy, the United States will work with partner
countries to combat transnational and other gangs that commit crimes in Central
America, Mexico, and the United States through both prevention and enforcement.
It will help prevent youth from entering gangs and strengthen the fight against
gang-related violence and other crimes. This strategy is one component of a
larger regional security plan that was discussed by President George W. Bush,
Guatemalan President Oscar Berger Perdomo, and Mexican President Felipe
Calderon and now is under development by the Central American countries.

Criminal gangs are a threat to the security and stability of the communities in
which they operate. Gang members prey on communities, families, and children by
employing tactics such as extortion, murder, and other crimes. Gangs move with
impunity across borders, and gang violence threatens fragile democracies.

The strategy sets forth five areas in whichthe United States will work with
our neighbors to combat criminal gangs:

1. Diplomacy: The United States will work with partner countries, the
international community, the private sector and non-governmental organizations
to identify resources and make legal and policy improvements that help protect
youth and combat crime.

2. Repatriation: The United States will work with our partners in Central
America and Mexico to share information and improve the process of returning
gang members who have come to the United States illegally and, where feasible,
help returning gang members be productive members of their communities.

3. Law Enforcement: Regional police and justice officials will collaborate to
track down criminal gang members, including by working through a new Central
American Fingerprinting Exploitation initiative, and to pursue criminal gang
members through joint law enforcement efforts such as the new Transnational
Anti-Gang Unit in El Salvador.

4. Capacity Enhancement: The United States will share knowledge and tools with
countries to improve law enforcement and prevention. This includes providing
training, knowledge, and tools through mechanisms such as the Regional Gangs
Program, The Organization of American States' Inter-American Drug Abuse Control
Commission (OAS/CICAD), and the International Law Enforcement Academy in El
Salvador.

5. Prevention: The United States will work with our neighboring countries to
develop prevention programs and national and regional policies that protect our
youth by providing alternatives to joining criminal gangs and helping members
leave gangs.

2007/607

Released on July 18, 2007
Sources: US State Department
See http://www.state.gov/

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