abstractEl Salvador has gone through many instances of political turmoil, which has fueled the ongoing gang violence situation in the country. Many things must be considered when looking at the issue at hand. It is important to look at the benefits and costs that have been inflicted on society through the well-known “Mano Dura policy” that has been enforced by President Bukele in recent years. This paper aims to cover how Slavadorian youth are impacted by policy and how Salvadorian society has reacted to President Nayib Bukles’s gang reality interventions. A brief overview of gang history, as well as how the famously known MS13 came to power through its international reach is also covered. I wrote this paper in my freshman year of college here at CSUN. Having written this a year ago, I still feel strongly about this issue and would like it to reach as many people as possible. I would like to thank Professor Encinias who inspired me to write this paper during my time in her course, as she gave us free will to think about a topic. I would like to specifically thank my mother, Seydi Heman, who helped me as well as encouraged me during the process of writing this paper. I would also like to thank my friends and family for also giving me encouragement in this process as well.
The current situation of gang violence involving the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS13) and Barrio 18 gangs has reached alarming levels. These gangs operate with impunity, terrorizing communities and leading to numerous brutal killings. The pervasive violence has profoundly affected the lives of Salvadorans, especially the youth, who are particularly vulnerable to gang recruitment and violence.
The legacy of the civil war in El Salvador has left deep scars on the country, contributing to the current gang crisis. Many areas of the country are effectively controlled by these gangs, perpetuating a cycle of violence and fear. Despite efforts by the government to address the issue, including controversial policies, the situation continues to worsen, leading to skepticism about the effectiveness of current approaches. The government’s approach, which often relies on heavy-handed tactics and fear, is reminiscent of past strategies during and after the civil war. This approach has not only failed to address the root causes of gang violence but has also led to the marginalization and stigmatization of Salvadoran youth, both at home and abroad. In the United States, Salvadoran youth experience discrimination and stereotyping, partly due to the failure of the Salvadoran government to effectively address social issues. This has created a dangerous environment where Salvadoran youth are at risk of being targeted by law enforcement simply because of their identity. Thus, the implication of the “Mano Dura” policy created by El Salvador, perpetuates additional violence, while youth continue to be impacted by gang violence as they migrate to the United States seeking better lives. Policy The current policy in El Salvador is overly strict and harmful, continuously being put into action. It is causing more harm than good, as the policy, known as “Mano Dura,” is aimed at solving gang violence but is creating an environment of chaos rather than peace (Rosen, Jonathan). Similarly, author Mo Hume states in the work “Mano Dura: El Salvador Responds to Gangs,” that the policy is adding more to the already high percentages of crime and is causing people, including youth, to further engage in violence (Hume, Mo). The concept of policy being overly strict and ruthless has prompted claims that the government, instilling the actual policy, has been treating not only youth but also gang members brutally, grouping them into categories. The Crisis Group, in the article “El Salvador’s Politics of Perpetual Violence,” further elaborates on this issue, stating that the policy causes youth to be dehumanized (Crisis Group). The current President, Nayib Bukele, has been continuously pushing forward with this policy, following the example set by previous administrators starting with the presidency of Sanchez Seren, which constructed the idea that strict policy is the only solution to the issue. Political figures in El Salvador are creating a different political scene, one where people are subject to a more authoritarian form of government, with youth being blamed for actions they are not directly involved in (Rosen, Jonathan). Therefore, the current policy, “Mano Dura,” is putting youth and gang members at risk by implementing harsher conditions while attempting to solve the issue at hand. Fear and Immigration Immigration and deportation are connected by their shared goal of inflicting fear, which has exacerbated the issue of gang violence. The United States has played a significant role in this issue, particularly through deportations. Author Donna DeCesare, in her work, “The Children of War: Street Gangs in El Salvador,” explains that many youths were deported from Los Angeles, having originally migrated from El Salvador during the war. These youths played a role in creating the largest gangs, MS13 and Barrio 18, which have since spread worldwide. The deportation of these individuals contributed to the further development of gangs in Central America, as violence was carried across borders. Consequently, this has resulted in gangs further developing in Central America into their complex nature today, as youth traveled carrying the violence they had lived with across borders. This, coupled with ineffective governmental action, has exacerbated the issue, as author Mo Hume noted (Hume, Mo). Deportations have also led to youth becoming more deeply involved in violence. Author Danielle Parada, in her work “Imprisoning Children: How El Salvador’s Adults Fail Young People Involved in Gangs,” suggests that the experience of migrating to the United States and back has left youth who lived in the States more prone to violence. This highlights how immigration and fear-induced policies contribute to the overall situation (Parada, Danielle). Corruption and Inner Conflict The current situation in El Salvador, with the government combatting gang violence with extreme measures, is itself a form of hypocrisy. This policy uncovers less prominent forms of corruption. Reports indicate that police forces are acting inappropriately toward female youth, demonstrating the Salvadoran government’s lack of serious action (Hume, Mo). The “Mano Dura” policy has also led to the formation of groups targeting youth and gang members. This has resulted in “death squads” forming under governmental action, allegedly including individuals with current or past governmental positions (Crisis Group). This policy not only increases levels of violence but also blames youth as the “source” of violence perpetuated by both citizens and youth themselves (Crisis Group). President Nayib Bukele has also been seen to perpetuate horror through his actions. He has disregarded the safety of many gang members and youth, exposing them to brutal killings in jail (D. Rosen, Jonathan). There is sufficient evidence of what happens behind closed doors as El Salvador administers its “Mano Dura” policy on its youth and people, many of whom have experienced traumatic events during and after the war. Trauma and Social Issues Poverty and other social issues including trauma stemming from the war, persist in El Salvador today. The ease with which youth can access weapons is an overlooked problem contributing to the overall issue (Hume, Mo). The unaddressed trauma has driven many youths to join gangs as poverty and limited job opportunities dominate Salvadoran life (Crisis Group). The government’s lack of proactive measures to address underlying issues exacerbates gang violence, with youth suffering as the main victims of killings and gang recruitment (Parada, Danielle). People living on unlivable wages in poor cities often feel compelled to join gangs or live in fear of them, as gangs control businesses and cities. The government's lack of assertiveness is evident in negotiations with gang members, who have requested better education and opportunities in exchange for improved jail conditions (Crisis Group). This illustrates how El Salvador has overlooked major issues in favor of harsh policies, to the point where even gang members are pleading for better lives. Stereotypes Stories of youth, such as those of Andres Guardado, have gained prominence in the media, highlighting how police attacks can be rooted in stereotypes. In the news article, “Protesters Demand Answers for Why 18-Year-Old Latino Man Was Shot by a Sheriff’s Deputy,” reporter Brittny Mejia and her colleagues account Guardado's story. He and his family migrated to the United States from El Salvador, seeking a better life (Mejia, Brittny). Many youths, as Donna DeCesare conceptualizes in her work, are led to believe that their lives must revolve around the violence growing in their home countries. Laine Reisman also deconstructs the situation of youth who face a similar situation in Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Responding to Central American Youth Gang Violence.” Reisman sees stereotypes in American society today as a result of the inadequate action taken against gang-related killings and rising homicide rates (Reisman, Laine). Youth, even in the United States, cannot escape the foundation of violence, which has been slowly growing continuously over generations. They are unable to lead normal lives, even when removed from the escalating situation in El Salvador. Summary El Salvador’s attempts to address gang violence through harsh policies have seen limited success, as claimed by many. Youth, forced to confront the issue on their terms, are internalizing the violence surrounding them. The “Mano Dura” policy, a source of anger among youth, has also affected the social and economic landscape. People feel they have no choice but to adopt violent behaviors, as the government has not effectively resolved the issue. As a result, youth and citizens in El Salvador are living in a society where gang violence has become normalized, with little noticeable change. Conclusion Gang violence proves to be more of a complex issue than one that can be solved just by implementing harsh policies, as many experts suggest. Addressing the problem effectively may require implementing programs that prevent youth from joining gangs in the first place (Parada, Danielle). Focusing on social issues and trauma, rather than harsh policies, has been proposed as a more practical approach, as strict policies have not alleviated the fears of El Salvador’s citizens about the future of their country. Offering better job opportunities and better education may also hinder youth from resorting to violence (Parada, Danielle). Implementing programs that help youth deal with underlying trauma, combined with a government that actively provides for its people, may be the key to bringing about the necessary change in El Salvador. A special thank you to my mother Seydi Heman, and sister, Jacqueline who encouraged me while writing this piece of work. I would also like to thank my friends, Jackeline, Lalli, Avery, Melissa, Hector, Jesus, Jessica, Larisa, Dominique, Stephanie, Dana, Lisette, and Fatima. Thank you to all of them, as this piece of work would in no shape or form be possible. Work Cited Crisis Group Latin America. “El Salvador’s Politics of Perpetual Violence.” Latin America Report N°64, 19 Dec. 2017, pp. 1–46., https://doi.org/https://icg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/064-el-salvador-s-politics-of-perpetual -violence.pdf. DeCesare, Donna. The Children of War: Street Gangs in El Salvador, Vol. 32, no. Issue 1, July 1998,https://web-p-ebscohost-com.libproxy.csun.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=3c96 3a48-109a-4064-9250-b7d2366d18c4%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ% 3d%3d#AN=511068012&db=ssf Hume, Mo. “Mano Dura: El Salvador Responds to Gangs.” Development in Practice, vol. 17, no. 6, 2007, pp. 739–751., https://doi.org/10.1080/09614520701628121. Mafia of the Poor: Gang Violence and Extortion in Central America.” Crisis Group, 2 Jan. 2018, https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/central-america/62-mafia-poor-gang -violence-and-extortion-central-america. Mejia, Brittny, et al. “Protesters Demand Answers for Why 18-Year-Old Latino Man Was Shot by a Sheriff's Deputy.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2020, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-21/protesters-demand-answers-fo r-wh y-18-year-old-latino-man-was-shot-by-deputy Parada, Danielle. “Imprisoning Children: How El Salvador's Adults Fail Young People Involved in Gangs .” Global Voices, 20 Apr. 2022, https://globalvoices.org/2022/04/20/imprisoning-children-how-el-salvadors-adults-fail-yo ung-people-involved-in-gangs/ Reisman, Lainie. “Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Responding to Central American Youth Gang Violence.” SAIS Review (Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies), vol. 26, no. 2, 2006, pp. 147–52, https://doi.org/10.1353/sais.2006.0041 Rosen, Jonathan D., et al. “Gangs, Violence, and Fear: Punitive Darwinism in El Salvador.” Crime, Law and Social Change, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-022-10040-3 Comments are closed.
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