News Roundup
Biggest Stories of the Week
US brings first terrorism charges against alleged Venezuelan gang member
Source: Reuters, April 23, 2025
The U.S. government has filed its first terrorism-related charges against Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, an alleged high-ranking member of the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua. This marks a significant shift in the Department of Justice’s strategy to combat transnational gangs, designating them as terrorist organizations. The move is part of a broader initiative to crack down on immigrant-linked gangs using wartime powers for deportation, leading to legal challenges nationwide.
Trump administration moved Venezuelan to Texas for possible deportation despite judge’s order
Source: Reuters, April 24, 2025
The Trump administration relocated a Venezuelan man from Pennsylvania to a Texas detention center for potential deportation, defying a federal judge’s order blocking his removal. The man was accused of gang affiliation based on unverified claims, highlighting concerns overdue process and the use of wartime laws for immigration enforcement.
Nonprofit and Street Outreach News
Free basketball league in Kensington offers alternative to violence
Source: Billy Penn, April 24, 2025
https://billypenn.com/2025/04/24/free-kensington-basketball-league-curb-violence-nkcdc/
A new basketball league in Kensington, Philadelphia, provides a safe space for men aged 18-40, aiming to reduce violence through community engagement. The program, a partnership between Esperanza Health and NKCDC’s Cure Violence initiative, emphasizes social and teamwork skills as tools for violence prevention.
Chicago Has Seen Significant Gun Violence Declines Under Peacekeepers Program
Source: WTTW News, April 17, 2025
Chicago’s Peacekeepers program, deploying over 1,200 individuals to mediate conflicts in violence-affected areas, has contributed to a notable decline in gun violence. The initiative leverages community relationships to prevent violence before it occurs, showcasing the effectiveness of grassroots intervention strategies.
Pasadena’s Gang Violence Prevention Program Shows Sustained Efforts in 2024
Source: Pasadena Now, April 2025
Pasadena’s comprehensive gang violence prevention initiative continues to implement strategies like street mediation, high-level violence interruption, and collaboration with local nonprofits. The program emphasizes community engagement and proactive intervention to reduce gang-related incidents.
Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Conference – Giffords.org
Source: Giffords, April 2025
https://giffords.org/action/community-violence-intervention-conference/
Giffords Center for Violence Intervention announced its upcoming 2025 CVI Conference in Los Angeles, focusing on community-based strategies to reduce gun violence. The event aims to bring together practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to share best practices and innovative approaches.
Legal and Legislative Developments
How a defunct gang registry helped deliver Kilmar Abrego García to a Salvadoran prison
Source: The Washington Post, April 19, 2025
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/04/19/kilmar-abrego-garcia-ice-police-gang-registry/
Kilmar Abrego García was deported to El Salvador based on a discredited gang registry, despite a judge’s order protecting him from removal. The case underscores systemic issues in gang identification processes and raises concerns about due process violations in immigration enforcement.
More Than 5,000 People Are on a NY State Police Gang Database That’s Talking to ICE
Source: The City, April 24, 2025
https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/04/24/gang-database-new-york-trump-immigration-enforcement/
New York State Police maintain a gang database with over 5,000 individuals, using speculative criteria like clothing and tattoos for inclusion. The database shares information with ICE, raising concerns about civil liberties and the potential for wrongful deportations.
GangNet database in use throughout DC region ‘decommissioned’ months ago
Source: WTOP, April 17, 2025
The GangNet database, used across the D.C. region to identify suspected gang members, was quietly decommissioned in January following a lawsuit challenging its accuracy and civil rights implications. Critics argued the system relied on vague criteria like social associations and clothing, leading to potential misclassifications and unjust surveillance.
11 Gang Members Plead Guilty to 114-Count Indictment in Laurens County
Source: Georgia Attorney General’s Office, April 17, 2025
Eleven individuals in Laurens County, Georgia, pleaded guilty to a sweeping 114-count indictment involving charges under the state’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. The convictions highlight ongoing debates over the use of expansive gang statutes and their impact on due process and sentencing disparities.
The Missing Due Process for Gang Allegations
Source: Just Security, April 2025
https://www.justsecurity.org/109543/missing-evidentiary-standard-gang-membership/
This analysis critiques the U.S. immigration system’s reliance on flawed gang databases and unverified allegations to detain and deport individuals, often without sufficient evidence or legal recourse. The article calls for stricter evidentiary standards to protect civil liberties.
Research News
Gang Deportations Are a Fool’s Errand; Instead, End the Drug War
Source: The Independent Institute, April 22, 2025
https://www.independent.org/article/2025/04/22/gang-deportations-are-a-fools-errand-instead-end-the-drug-war/
Jonathan Hofer argues that deporting gang members is ineffective and advocates for ending the drug war as a more sustainable solution to gang-related violence. The article critiques current policies and suggests a shift towards decriminalization and public health approaches.
Group Violence Intervention – National Network for Safe Communities
Source: NNSC, April 2025
https://nnscommunities.org/strategies/group-violence-intervention/
The National Network for Safe Communities highlights the effectiveness of Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategies in reducing homicides and gun violence. By fostering collaboration between law enforcement and community members, GVI aims to deter group-involved violence through focused deterrence and support services.
Gun Violence Reduction Program | Engage San Diego County
Source: San Diego County, April 2025
https://engage.sandiegocounty.gov/gvrp
San Diego County’s Gun Violence Reduction Work Plan outlines 17 actions to address various forms of violence, including community violence linked to gang activity. The plan emphasizes prevention, intervention, and support services to create safer communities.
Other News and Items of Interest
The fall of a violent D.C. gang that used federal loans to buy drugs in bulk
Source: The Washington Post, April 23, 2025
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/23/kennedy-street-crew-sentenced-dc/
Seventeen members of the Kennedy Street Crew, a violent D.C. gang, have been sentenced for crimes including drug trafficking and money laundering. The gang used fraudulent businesses and federal COVID relief loans to fund their operations, highlighting issues in oversight and the exploitation of government programs.
20 alleged gang members accused of terrorizing Bronx arrested
Source: ABC7NY, April 17, 2025
Twenty alleged gang members have been indicted for crimes including shootings and drug trafficking in the West Farms section of the Bronx. The arrests are part of a broader effort to address gang violence in New York City neighborhoods.
The peacekeeper trying to break the cycle of violence in a rural California town
Source: The Guardian, August 30, 2024
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/aug/30/delano-california-gun-violence
In Delano, California, peacekeeper Mercedies Escalante works with Garden Pathways to provide support and resources to individuals affected by gang violence. The program offers therapy, job training, and mentorship to prevent retaliation and promote healing in the community.
Alternative and Independent Sources
H Block Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution and Firearm Offense
Source: FBI, April 17, 2025
https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/gangs/gang-news
Jerry Gray, a member of Boston’s H-Block gang, pleaded guilty to drug distribution and firearm charges. The case is part of ongoing
The NYPD’s Gang Database is a digitized version of Stop and Frisk
Source: Instagram / Center for Constitutional Rights, April 2025
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHJOGBlOlI4/A social media post by the Center for Constitutional Rights compares the NYPD’s gang database to the controversial Stop and Frisk policy, highlighting concerns over racial profiling and the impact on communities of color. The post calls for increased transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices.
