Viewers throughout the country tuned in to the State of the Union so President Donald Trump could inform them of the shape of our country. 

In my opinion, what he fed the public were words to make them afraid of their safety and support a plan without knowing facts. Trump spoke about the gang, Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13, with an ulterior motive.

Trump’s focus on the MS-13 gang is only spreading the misconception that most immigrants coming to the United States for asylum are gang members coming for more recruts. This is incorrect. 

Refugees escaping El Salvador formed MS-13 in Los Angeles in the 1980s, according to the New York Times. 

When refugees emigrate for safety away from the gang in El Salvador, it is common to feel isolated. It’s a new country with a different language, usually living in broken home life situations and attending poor public schools. This disconnection at home and in the community makes them an easy target for recruitment from gang members. 

Trump’s speech made the MS -13 seem like it’s the largest gang in the United States, and growing stronger by incoming refugees. MS-13 is not the largest gang in the country. The focus on MS-13 by the president has only made the gang feel stronger. 

Alex Sanchez, a former MS-13 gang member, said, “MS-13 getting hyped to be one of the most dangerous gangs in the world just feeds into the gang’s goal and alpha mentality. It’s a recruitment tool.” According to The New Yorker, this misconception that the gang is larger and stronger than it really is will persuade young immigrants to join for safety or out of fear.

The connection made between MS-13 gang members and illegal immigrants is spreading false ideas to Americans that immigration is what is making the gang stronger. We should make the decision for new policy by knowing the facts and not by fear.

Sen. Kamala Harris said it best; “we’re not supposed to convince the American public of policy because we make them afraid,” according to USA Today.

Trump believes that deporting illegal immigrants back to their home country will stop the MS-13 gang, but this immigration plan has failed before. 

According to the Washington Post, the Clinton administration’s immigration plan failed when it increased deportations.

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 deported thousands of immigrants, but that made the gang grow in El Salvador. By deporting illegal immigrants who were members of the MS-13 gang, they grew stronger in their home countries.

This only made many come to the United States looking for safety from the violence. 

Trump’s State of the Union address did not mention how to help minors coming to the country for safety, but only spoke about increased border protection. Increased deportation will only repeat what happened in the 1990s. 

The way to decrease gang members in the United States is to have more resources for immigrant communities. 

Kids and teenagers usually don’t want to be in a gang. They join a gang for protection from a country that provides little help to guide them into a better life. Some come into this country with trauma from the violence in theirs. 

They need mentors, resources for mental health, and people to rely on for help when gangs recruit them. With the current political climate, it would scare people to even show connections with gang activity. 

It makes them not want to get help to leave a gang whose members might have forced them to join, out of fear of deportation. 

Fear, increased deportation and a divided country will only help feed the problem.