For information on the recent activities and known members of the death squad Sombra Negra (Black Shadow), as well as their involvement in killing juvenile delinquents, criminals and other "social undesirables", please consult the attached media reports. Please note that Sombra Negra is also referred to as Black Shadow in the documentation.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum

The Associated Press. 7 August 1995. "Death Squad Resumes Operations." (NEXIS)

_____. 27 July 1995. "El Salvador Makes Arrests." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 May 1995. AM Cycle. "Four Gang Members Killed by 'Black Shadow' Squad." (NEXIS)

The Austin American-Statesman. 23 July 1995. "El Salvador Police Trail 'Death Squad'." (NEXIS)

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 11 August 1995. Vol. 22, No. 29. "El Salvador: Death Squad Suspects Captured," pp. 5-6.

_____. 19 May 1995. Vol. 22, No. 18. "El Salvador: The Shadow of Death Squads Returns," pp. 1-3.

_____. 24 February 1995. Vol. 22, No. 7. "El Salvador: Police Unable to Control Crime," p. 3.

The Dallas Morning News. 26 July 1995. State Edition. "Salvadorans Protest Arrests in Hit-Squad Case." (NEXIS)

The Fresno Bee. 21 May 1995. Home Edition. Marcos Aleman. "Death Squads Return to El Salvador; Government Involvement Means the Killings Could Turn Political." (NEXIS)

Houston Chronicle. 20 May 1995. Marcos Aleman. "New Death Squads Targeting Criminals." (Central America Newspac [Austin], 15-28 May 1995, Vol. 10, No. 8, p. 3)

Inter Press Service. 31 July 1995. Juan Jose Dalton. "El Salvador Human Rights: 'Black Shadow' in Court." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 April 1995. Juan Jose Dalton. "El Salvador: Vigilante Groups Help Step-Up the Violence." (NEXIS)

La Prensa Graphica [San Salvador, in Spanish]. Oscar Tenorio. 25 September 1995. "Calderon Sol on 'Black Shadow' Gang, Electoral Reforms." (FBIS-LAT-95-188 28 September 1995, p. 14)

_____. 22 April 1995. "President Criticizes Threats by Black Shadow Organization." (FBIS-LAT-95-080 26 Apr. 1995, p. 22)

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 24 August 1995. "Crime and Vigilantes in El Salvador: Risky Experiment as First Death Squad Falls," pp. 378-379.

Miami Herald. 9 October 1995. Thomas Long. "Salvador's New Police Lawlessness." (Central America Newspac [Austin], 16-29 Oct. 1995, Vol. 10, No. 19, p. 2)

NotiSur. 4 August 1995. "El Salvador: Police Arrest 16 Suspected Members of 'Sombra Negra' Death Squad." (NEXIS)

The Times-Picayune [New Orleans, La.]. 9 July 1995. Ray Sanchez. "Death Squads Alive in Salvador; Shadowy Vigilante Groups Target Tattooed Teen-Age Gang Members." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 22 July 1995. BC Cycle. "Salvadoran Vigilantes Threaten Police." (NEXIS)

Washington Post. 30 July 1995. Douglas Farah. "High-Level Arrest Marks Salvadoran Death Squad Probe." (Central America Newspac [Austin], 24 July-7 August 1995, Vol. 10, No. 13, pp. 2-3)