9/16-9/22 News Roundup

Wu seeks funding for Boston police unit she pledged to dismantle. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is facing criticism from criminal justice advocates for seeking millions in additional funding for the Boston Police Department's intelligence-gathering arm. This shift is seen as contradictory to her previous campaign promises to dismantle the controversial gang database and abolish the intelligence center. Wu initially requested three $850,000 state grants for the center, which were blocked by the council's progressive wing. She has since re-filed for these grants and added a fourth, totaling $3.4 million. Despite recent reforms to the gang database, advocates remain opposed to the funding, citing concerns about surveillance of minority communities. WBUR

Trump notes he would expand his travel ban if reelected. Former President Donald Trump, during a campaign event in Dubuque, Iowa, announced plans to immediately use the Alien Enemies Act if re-elected, targeting suspected gang members, drug dealers, and cartel members over the age of 14 for detention and deportation. He also promised to expand his previous travel ban and relocate troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, Trump proposed redirecting federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, and ATF towards immigration enforcement and committing the Navy to establish blockades to prevent fentanyl from entering the country via waterways. NBC News

Asian American actor revealed to have history with Chinatown gangs. Galen Yuen, an Asian American actor was discovered to have a troubled past as a member of the Suey Sing gang, battling drug addiction and serving jail time in his youth. His niece, Maya Lin Sugarman, uncovered this hidden history by reading his screenplays after his death. Yuen transitioned from his troubled past to a career in Hollywood, aiming to bring authenticity to his roles, culminating in the creation of the 1997 crime movie "Crazy Six." Today, it's believed that Chinatown gang activity was eliminated after the high-profile arrest of Raymong Chow. But the Suey Sing, Hop Sing, Hip Sing, Bing Kong and Chee Kung tongs, or brotherhoods, are still prominent associations in San Francisco Chinatown. The San Francisco Standard

Mexican Mafia member shot dead in California. Fugitive Mexican Mafia member Martin Madrigal Cazares, who controlled gangs in Ventura County from Mexico, was recently shot dead in Baja California. Madrigal had a criminal history, including drug trafficking, and had been subject to extradition to the United States. His influence extended to California gangs and drug trade, operating within a shadowy world of cross-border criminal activities. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, leaving questions about whether it was related to his drug trade dealings or internal issues within the Mexican Mafia. LA Times

Gangster Sukha Duneke killed in Canada. Gangster Sukha Duneke, a fugitive on the NIA wanted list, was killed in an inter-gang rivalry in Canada. He had at least 18 criminal cases against him, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery. Duneke, originally from Punjab, had fled to Canada in 2017 on forged documents, where he was associated with various criminals and managed gang activities, extortion rackets, and targeted killings in Punjab and neighboring areas. His associates were arrested earlier this year, and his name was linked to several criminal incidents, including the killing of an international kabaddi player and two rival gang members. The Tribune India

Researchers have an answer for how many people work for Mexican Drug cartels. Research estimates there are approximately 175,000 people on the payrolls of Mexican cartels, making them one of the country's largest employers. The estimate, published in the journal Science, is based on data related to incarceration and casualties over the past decade. The study suggests that cartels need to recruit between 350 and 370 individuals every week to replenish their ranks due to arrests and casualties. LA Times