Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump Critic Becerra on MS-13 Gang: Not Animals, But Not Human Either
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
September 1, 2018

Share

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra didn’t quite share President Donald Trump’s sentiments on the gang MS-13, but he came close.
“When you talk about maiming human life, scarring them to the point that you don’t recognize them, I don’t know if you would call them human beings,” Becerra said at a news conference to announce the arrest of 25 MS-13 gang members in an operation in Mendota.
Becerra spoke Friday (Aug. 31) at the federal courthouse in downtown Fresno, along with federal and local law enforcement officials, following a year-long, multi-agency investigation.
Trump notably called the gang “animals” in a White House meeting that included Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims in May. Trump’s remarks caused a backlash at that time.
Becerra, as attorney general, had led California’s “resistance” to Trump’s policies on immigration, healthcare, and the environment in speeches and in the courtroom. In 2017, California sued the Trump administration 24 times.

Most (homicides) were as a result of machete and knife attacks, rendering their victims visually unidentifiable. Bodies are then left out in the open, sending a message of intimidation to our communities.” — Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims
The 25 arrested, in what law enforcement dubbed Operation Blue Inferno, are being charged with 14 murders, as well as kidnapping and drug trafficking in the Mendota area.
“This is a good day. An extremely violent street gang, which has terrorized western Fresno County, has been completely dismantled,” U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said.

Violent Crimes

Mims detailed some of the horrific allegations against the gang.
“Most (homicides) were as a result of machete and knife attacks, rendering their victims visually unidentifiable,” Mims said. “Bodies are then left out in the open, sending a message of intimidation to our communities.”
Law enforcement served 19 search warrants on Thursday in Mendota, Kerman and Los Angeles. Also, a search of 37 cells in 11 state prisons yielded contraband such as cell phones, drugs, and weapons.
“Yesterday was D-Day for this investigation,” Scott said. “Nothing like this happens without the complete dedication, hard work, and professionalism of a core team of law enforcement professionals.”
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said she would prosecute 11 members in county court next week. Others face federal charges.

Immigration Status Vague

Scott did not reveal the immigration status of the 25 alleged gang members arrested. President Trump has blamed America’s immigration policies for the influx of gangs like MS-13. The gang’s history traces to Central America.
“This was not an immigration operation. This was a law enforcement criminal operation,” Scott deflected.
Homeland Security Investigation Special Agent Ryan Spradlin said his department’s role is to undertake criminal investigations.
“The victims of violent criminal organizations first concern isn’t where their assailants are from. It is that they are taken off the streets, and justice be delivered,” Spradlin said.
“Often misperceptions exist that HSI’s involvement in an operation like this is a nexus to illegal immigration,” Spradlin said. “Our partners know that HSI doesn’t initiate nor participate in criminal investigations because of someone’s citizenship, but rather the alleged criminal activity they are involved with.”
Becerra wanted the focus to remain on the criminal allegations, not MS-13’s country of origin.
“This is not an operation based on color, creed, origin or status. It was based on criminal conduct,” Becerra said.

DON'T MISS

Fresno Team Makes Low-Budget Horror Flicks Look Like Multi-Million-Dollar Productions

DON'T MISS

4B Movement: After the Election, a Call for Women to Swear Off Men

DON'T MISS

Homeowners’ Effort to Leave Sierra Unified Ends With County Ed Rejection

DON'T MISS

Will Terance Frazier’s Nonprofit Exit Granite Park or Fight?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Sends Pickup Into Tree, Dark Tint Cited as Cause

DON'T MISS

November Has Scattered Cool Temps, Rain Showers for Fresno

DON'T MISS

Beyoncé Makes Grammy History With ‘Cowboy Carter,’ Leading 2025 Nominations

DON'T MISS

Macklin Celebrini, NHL’s Youngest Player, Scores on Marc-Andre Fleury, League’s Oldest

DON'T MISS

Ramsey, Beckham Return to SoFi Stadium When the Struggling Dolphins Visit the Streaking Rams

DON'T MISS

San Francisco’s First Black Female Mayor Concedes to Levi Strauss Heir

UP NEXT

4B Movement: After the Election, a Call for Women to Swear Off Men

UP NEXT

Homeowners’ Effort to Leave Sierra Unified Ends With County Ed Rejection

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Sends Pickup Into Tree, Dark Tint Cited as Cause

UP NEXT

November Has Scattered Cool Temps, Rain Showers for Fresno

UP NEXT

San Francisco’s First Black Female Mayor Concedes to Levi Strauss Heir

UP NEXT

FBI Thwarts Iranian Murder-for-Hire Plan Targeting Donald Trump

UP NEXT

Southern California Wildfire Destroys 132 Structures as Officials Look for Fierce Winds to Subside

UP NEXT

Wave of Racist Texts After Election Prompts FBI Scrutiny

UP NEXT

Tulare County Man Brutally Killed at Halloween Party, Six Arrested

UP NEXT

City of Fresno Buys Half of Eldorado Park in Strategic Maxwell-Led Move

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Will Terance Frazier’s Nonprofit Exit Granite Park or Fight?

3 hours ago

Fresno Crash Sends Pickup Into Tree, Dark Tint Cited as Cause

4 hours ago

November Has Scattered Cool Temps, Rain Showers for Fresno

4 hours ago

Beyoncé Makes Grammy History With ‘Cowboy Carter,’ Leading 2025 Nominations

5 hours ago

Macklin Celebrini, NHL’s Youngest Player, Scores on Marc-Andre Fleury, League’s Oldest

5 hours ago

Ramsey, Beckham Return to SoFi Stadium When the Struggling Dolphins Visit the Streaking Rams

5 hours ago

San Francisco’s First Black Female Mayor Concedes to Levi Strauss Heir

6 hours ago

FBI Thwarts Iranian Murder-for-Hire Plan Targeting Donald Trump

6 hours ago

Israeli Soccer Fans Were Attacked in Amsterdam. The Violence Was Condemned as Antisemitic

6 hours ago

Longtime Dodgers Ace Clayton Kershaw Is on the Mend After 2 Surgeries

6 hours ago

Fresno Team Makes Low-Budget Horror Flicks Look Like Multi-Million-Dollar Productions

Steven Sanchez Entertainment The local independent horror film “Drive Back” was released to streaming services like Apple TV an...

24 mins ago

24 mins ago

Fresno Team Makes Low-Budget Horror Flicks Look Like Multi-Million-Dollar Productions

Following the results of Tuesday's election, Jada Mevs, a 25-year-old from Washington, D.C., is urging women to take action by signing up for self-defense classes, deleting dating apps, getting on birth control, and investing in vibrators, as part of a growing response to the election of Donald Trump for a second term and the failure of abortion rights referendums. (Shutterstock)
1 hour ago

4B Movement: After the Election, a Call for Women to Swear Off Men

2 hours ago

Homeowners’ Effort to Leave Sierra Unified Ends With County Ed Rejection

3 hours ago

Will Terance Frazier’s Nonprofit Exit Granite Park or Fight?

4 hours ago

Fresno Crash Sends Pickup Into Tree, Dark Tint Cited as Cause

4 hours ago

November Has Scattered Cool Temps, Rain Showers for Fresno

5 hours ago

Beyoncé Makes Grammy History With ‘Cowboy Carter,’ Leading 2025 Nominations

5 hours ago

Macklin Celebrini, NHL’s Youngest Player, Scores on Marc-Andre Fleury, League’s Oldest

Search

Send this to a friend