Homies Unidos Seeks to Eradicate Gang Violence
Deported L.A. Gang Members Are Deported to El Salvador
Sep 23, 2008
The strict immigration laws entered into legislation since the mid 1990’s have hit Los Angeles especially hard. Many accused gang members found guilty of deportable crimes were sent back to their home country of El Salvador.
The Story of One Deported Gang Member
In 1999 This American Life produced a radio story about the life and deportation Jose William Huezo Soriano of Los Angeles California. “Weasel,” as he has always been referred to, came to the US as a small child. He only vaguely had memories of El Slavador where was deported after being convicted of gang related crimes and serving a jail sentence.
In the story “Weasel” discusses his new life and how much he misses his mother and family back in Los Angeles. At the time of the broadcast he had only distant relatives in his new home country. He also met up with many other deported criminals from the US, some of whom still carry on the “gang lifestyle” in El Salvador despite their deportation from the US.
“Weasel’s job is working with an organization in San Salvador called Homies Unidos,” said this American Life host Ira Glass at the end of the radio story.
The Mission of Homies Unidos
Since the deportation laws affect a significant portion of Los Angeles constituent, and since many of the deported criminals are sent to El Salvador, the nonprofit organization, Homies Unidos, is on a mission to eradicate gang violence from both regions.
According to their website Homies Unidos seeks to “end violence and promote peace in our communities through gang intervention, empowering youth to change and providing positive and productive alternatives for them to do so in both El Salvador and Los Angeles.”
The organization has a staff in both Los Angeles and El Salvador constantly striving to end gangs and gang violence by committing youth to alternative activities and support systems.
Jose William Huezo Soriano
According to a 2004 article in The Sand Diego Union-Tirbune “Weasel” was sentenced to two years in a U.S. prison because he illegally reentered the country citing political asylum.
The San Diego Union-Tribune stated “Weasel’s” life was threatened by gang members in El Salvador for challenging the gang’s authority and also by the El Salvadorian government because they have instituted iron fist laws against previous and current gang members.
Before his incarceration "Weasel" was the president of the El Salvador chapter of Homies Unidos. There is no other information about the whereabouts of Jose William "Weasel" Huezo Soriano after his incarceration for illegally crossing the boarder in the United Sates. He is no longer listed on the Homies Unidos website.
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