Obama Takes A Huge Risk: Administration Targets Violent MS-13 Street Gang

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is an extremely violent street gang originating from El Salvador which has wreaked havoc in the United States for years. This past Thursday, the Obama administration designated the group as an international criminal group, and now they're looking to crack down on the finances of MS-13.

The Treasury Department officially labeled the street gang as a transnational criminal organization. The overall goal of targeting the violent group is to seize millions of dollars in profits made from distribution of drugs, human smuggling, and other various crimes committed in the U.S.

The gang is comprised of over 10,000 members who stretch across 46 states, expanding far beyond the original U.S. stomping grounds of Los Angeles. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jason Shatarsky says the brutal nature of the gang has shocked not only law enforcement but rival gangs as well.

"They saw a level of violence that hadn't been seen before," Shatarsky simply said.

The majority of the members of MS-13 all have strong ties to Mexico and the various drug cartels in that country. The Treasury Department is looking to slow down their operations in an attempt to prevent the funneling of money to Mexico. Any member of the gang will be subject to prosecution, according to David S. Cohen, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence of the Treasury.