    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9928 of September 13, 2019

    National Gang Violence Prevention Week, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    My Administration has successfully indicted, convicted, imprisoned, and
    removed from our country ruthless members of gangs and cartels who
    inflict horrendous acts of violence upon Americans. During National Gang
    Violence Prevention Week, my Administration renews its dedication to
    identifying and dismantling the criminal networks that seek to wreak
    havoc on our communities and to bringing the individuals who participate
    in them to justice. We also reaffirm our support for the heroes of law
    enforcement who have taken a sacred pledge to defend the Nation and its
    people.
    Our Nation's law enforcement officers are the first line of defense
    against acts of evil perpetrated by gang members. My Administration has
    increased efforts and has devoted considerable resources to catching,
    prosecuting, and removing these criminals from our streets. We have made
    tremendous strides by partnering with State, local, and tribal law
    enforcement to implement new initiatives, such as Project Safe
    Neighborhoods, that have been successful in creating safer communities
    through targeted and sustained reductions in gang violence. Because of
    these efforts, the Department of Justice (DOJ) brought more cases
    against violent criminals in fiscal year 2018 than ever before. The
    record progress we have achieved is the result of our tough stance
    against crime as well as the bravery and hard work of law enforcement
    officials.
    My Administration is also aggressively combating transnational criminal
    organizations that bring mayhem across our borders and into our country.
    On our southern border especially, gangs are heavily involved in murder,
    extortion, narcotics, and weapons trafficking, human smuggling and
    trafficking, and other nefarious activities. In the first few weeks of
    my Administration, I signed three executive orders to dismantle
    transnational criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, to
    reduce crime and restore public safety, and to enhance the safety of law
    enforcement officers. The DOJ is also working with law enforcement in El
    Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to help coordinate the fight against
    MS-13, the 18th Street Gang, and other dangerous criminal organizations
    that try to enter the United States in an effort to ravage our
    communities. This partnership, called Operation Regional Shield, targets
    gangs at the source and works to ensure that these criminals never reach
    our borders. So far, the program has resulted in the indictment of more
    than 7,000 criminal gang members. In the first 2 years of my
    Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers made
    266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged
    or convicted of 100,000 assaults, nearly 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000
    violent killings. My first duty is to care

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    for our Nation's citizens, and my Administration remains committed to
    securing the border and stopping criminal gangs, drug smugglers, and
    human traffickers.
    This week, we renew our pledge to defeat criminal gangs and protect our
    Nation's communities from violent crime so that all Americans have the
    opportunity to live in safety and peace. We express our deep gratitude
    to the selfless men and women of our law enforcement agencies who risk
    their lives protecting our communities. We also pay tribute to the
    innocent victims of gang violence and pray for their families. Let us
    honor them by redoubling our efforts to root out and eliminate brutal
    gangs that threaten our society.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of September
    15 through September 21, 2019, as ``National Gang Violence Prevention
    Week.'' I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week
    with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
    September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP