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Part 12: Alex Sanchez on Becoming the First Ex-Gang Member to Be Granted Political Asylum in U.S.
Part 10: Alex Sanchez on Why MS-13 Gave Him a Pass After Leaving the Gang
Part 1: Alex Sanchez on Fleeing El Salvador & Getting Jumped into MS-13, Details Gang's Origins
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In the late 1990s, Alex Sanchez founded Homies Unidos, a nonprofit dedicated to helping gang members and former gang members rehabilitate and reintegrate into society. Originating from El Salvador and later established in Los Angeles, the organization offered tattoo removal and community support programs. However, Sanchez soon found himself in conflict with the LAPD’s Rampart Division.
Sanchez explains that LAPD began harassing his group after discovering their Thursday night meetings held at a local church, supported by actor John Cusack’s Arts Expand program. The police frequently stopped youths associated with Homies Unidos, attempting to surveil their gatherings. Despite the church’s refusal to allow police eavesdropping, tensions escalated.
The situation worsened when a Homies Unidos member was wrongfully arrested for murder, despite having a solid alibi with Sanchez and others at the time of the incident. Sanchez risked his own safety by testifying in court, aware that LAPD and immigration officials closely monitored his activities. Ultimately, his activism exposed deep-rooted issues between community efforts and the police’s aggressive tactics.
