Alex Sanchez on Being Deported to El Salvador, MS-13 & 18th Street War Spreading Out There (Part 7)

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Alex Sanchez, a former gang member deported from the U.S., sheds light on the complex situation of gang violence intertwined with immigration policies in El Salvador. At 21, Sanchez found himself deported after a brief imprisonment linked to a parole violation, influenced by the anti-terrorist legislation strengthened post the Oklahoma City bombing. Despite winning his case to remain in the U.S., he was deported without legal representation.

Returning to El Salvador for the first time since childhood, Sanchez encountered a volatile environment where MS-13 and 18th Street gangs, which originated in Los Angeles, were establishing a foothold. The gang warfare that had ravaged his life in the U.S. was now alarmingly present in his homeland, facilitated by the recent peace accords that left the country with an underdeveloped police system.

Sanchez expressed disheartenment at being seen as a threat due to his tattoos, limiting job opportunities, and forcing integration with gang culture. The lack of employment combined with encountering street children, often victims of violence and poverty, created a natural yet tragic alliance with those like him, fueling a cycle of violence.