Ice Guidance Memo - Operation Community Shield (3/7/05)

o1ft ce o/lffiJesti!!pi iom V.S.

De~rlmentofHOineland Sewrity

425 I ,1,,,,,, NW Wffihing~l,DC

20536

US. Immigration and Customs . Enforcement March 7, 2005

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Special Agents in Charge

FROM:

Marcy M. Forman lsi Director of Investigations

SUBJECT:

Operation Community Shield - Guidan ce

On February 23,2005, I provided you with initial guidance and reporting requirements regarding Operation Community Shield, which is an ICE led effort to attack the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang(s). The purpose of this Memorandum is to provide further details regarding Operation Community Shield, the process developed to address M S-13 gangs in your respective areas of responsibility (AORs) and to communicate reporting requ irements and expectations for all SAC offices with respect to Operation Community Shield. Based upon threat assessments conducted by

al~SACs

threat· The Headquarters smiiigglinand Public Safety Division worked with the above listed SAC offices to develop a roc ss to be app lied in the in1p lementation of Operation Community Shield. The app Ication ofthi process insured uniformity and consistency in identifY ing and prioritizing targets and institut coordination between ICE and other law enforcement agencies. The remaining"CE SAC offices may anticipate the emergence ofMS-13 activity in their AORs, particularly as ICE enforcement operations disp lace gang activity. "

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the SACs to gather intelligence, develop sources of In ormation, an to ultinmtely disrupt, dismantle and prosecuteMS-13 gang members and organ izations is detailed below.

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Office 0 f/mestigat ions

V.S. Del~rtmmt of Hom elarxI Sewrity

425 I Slr"",NW Wl£hington,DC 20536

u.s. Immigration and Customs Enforcement FEB 23 2005

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Special Agents in C arge

FROM:

Marcy M, Forman Director ofInvestigation

SUBJECT:

Operation Community Shield - M S-13 Gang In itiative

Operation Community Shield is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiative through which the Office ofInvestigations will address the growing problem of the violent street gang Mara Salvatrucha (M S-13) in America, In December 2003, all SAC offices conducted threat assessments regardin g violent street gang activity in their areas of responsibility (AOR), The assessments indicated that MS-13 as among the largest and most violent of street gan gs in the United States, The assessments estimate that the majority ofM S13's membership consists offoreign-born persons, thus making them subject to ICE's broad criminal and administrative authorities. As a result, the Smuggling / Public Safety Division at ICE Headquarters developed Operation Community Shield as a focused initiative to bringto bear ICE's authorities, in a coord inated effort, against M S-13, The goals of this effort are to gather intelligence, develop sources of information, and to ultimately disrupt, dismantle and prosecute the violent street gang members and the organ iz at ions as a whole by emp loy ingthe full range of authorities and investigative tools available to ICE. Operation Community Shield will be a cooperative and coordinated effort with the Offices ofIntelligence and Detention and Removal Operations. In order to maximize ion with other Federal law enforcement agencies s recommended. Full engagement of the respective U.S, rJ" :J..l~ Attorneys will be critical to the success of Operation Community Shield. Additionally, there \J/;l1J will be a sign ificant emp has is on enhancing information sharing amon g state and local law enforcement agencies.

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Memorandum for Special Agents in Charge Operation Community Shield

ICE SAC offices will be incorporated into Community Shield based on intelligence developed during the in itial imp iementation ofthe operation and existing threats that are identified by each respective ICE office. As additional SAC offices are incorporated into Communit Shield, the too will a roc s as rev· i

S- I3 enforcement activities is requjre ICE Headquarters has been tasked to prepare a weekly report to the ecretary 0 e Dep artment ofHomeiand Security summarizing our achievements under Operation Community Shield.

Further details regard ing Operation Community Shield will be provided in a follow-up memorandum. Please . omments or questions regard ing Operation Community Shield sistant Director, Smuggling/ Public Safety Division, at

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