Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump and his top immigration enforcers have begun to focus their attention on the deadly MS-13 gang, saying the administration's hardline immigration policies are focused on stopping its spread in the US. "MS-13, you know about MS-13?" Trump said at a speech before the National Rifle Association Friday in Atlanta. "It's not pleasant for them anymore. That's a bad group. Not pleasant for MS-13 -- get them the hell out of here, right? Get them out." But the truth about the gang, the first street gang to be labeled a "transnational criminal organization" by the US government, is more complicated -- and experts say using MS-13 to justify cracking down on undocumented immigrants could actually make the gang stronger.MS-13 actually began in the US and grew as members were deportedIt is the first street gang to be labeled a "transnational criminal organization"
As part of its heightened rhetoric against illegal immigration, the _ administration of late has spotlighted MS-13 as a sort of public enemy No. In FY15, 322 _ members were arrested by HSI out of 125,211 total arrested by ICE. In the current fiscal year, which began last fall, 253 _ members have been arrested. In his region, he said, the number of homicides linked to _ members are roughly equal to the number of homicides linked to all other gangs put together, though that does not speak to other kinds of gang operations or size. But while Liquorie appreciated the federal government wanting to help local law enforcement fight the gang, he questioned whether DOJ was actually undermining its cause by equating _ to undocumented immigrants.