(washingtontimes.com) The international street gang MS-13 is unifying its violent members across the U.S., including the D.C. area, attempting to strengthen its criminal operation by creating a single organization.

“Traditionally, the gang consisted of loosely affiliated groups known as cliques; however, law enforcement officials have reported increased coordination of criminal activity among Mara Salvatrucha cliques in the Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York metropolitan areas,” states a confidential letter sent out earlier this month from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois.

“MS-13 is attempting to become a unified criminal enterprise operating under one leadership.”

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MS-13 is also the largest gang in Northern Virginia and groups associated with the gang are growing in Montgomery County, Md., as well, said Virginia state Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, Fairfax County Republican.

“At my level of government, what frustrates me the most is that so many people stand in the way of tough policies against illegal immigration,” Mr. Cuccinelli said. “They either ignore it or don’t understand the connection to public safety, security and the community’s well-being.” (more…)

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