MS-13

Mara Salvatrucha
Members frequently have identifiable tattoos
Founded1980s[1]
Founding locationPico-Union, Los Angeles, California, United States[1]
Years active1980s–present
TerritoryEl Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, United States, Canada and Spain[2][3][4]
EthnicityPrimarily Salvadoran, but also Honduran, Guatemalan and Mexican[5][6]
Membership (est.)
  • 30,000–50,000 (global)[7]
  • 8,000–10,000 (United States)[8]
ActivitiesDrug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, identification theft, prostitution, robbery, auto theft, extortion, vandalism[6][8][9]
Allies
Rivals
Designated as a terrorist group by

Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. Originally, the gang was set up to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the Los Angeles area. Over time, the gang grew into a more traditional criminal organization. MS-13 has a longtime rivalry with the 18th Street gang.

Many MS-13 members were deported to El Salvador after the end of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, or upon being arrested, facilitating the spread of the gang to Central America. The gang is active in many parts of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Most members are Central American—Salvadorans in particular.

As an international gang, its history is closely tied to United States–El Salvador relations. In 2018, the gang's US membership of up to 10,000 accounted for less than 1% of the 1.4 million gang members in the United States, and a similar share of gang murders. On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the process to designate various drug cartels and transnational gangs, including MS-13, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).[19] The order was officially enacted on February 20, 2025, making such groups officially terrorist organizations.[20]

  1. ^ a b A Glock in the Park: A Guide to the Gangs of the MacArthur Greens David Mark Simpson, Los Angeles (June 25, 2013) Archived March 28, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ New murders and more MS-13 members added to sprawling case against gang's clique Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times (August 24, 2021) Archived August 25, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Toronto goes after street gang Brendan Howley, The National (August 5, 2008) Archived January 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ MS13 Trial in Spain Highlights Gang's Struggle for International Unity Angelika Albaladejo, InSight Crime (February 21, 2018) Archived February 21, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving a Violent Murder and for Drug Distribution and Firearms Violations justice.gov (June 1, 2023) Archived June 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b The MS-13 Threat fbi.gov (January 14, 2008) Archived January 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "National Gang Threat Assessment". fbi.gov. National Gang Intelligence Center. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Criminal Street Gangs justice.gov (May 12, 2015) Archived June 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ MS-13: A Gang Profile Office of Justice Programs (2009) Archived June 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ a b c MS-13's Highest-Ranking Leaders Charged with Terrorism Offenses in the United States justice.gov (January 14, 2021) Archived January 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ a b Bryjak, G. J.; Barkan, S. E. (2011). Fundamentals of criminal justice: a sociological view. Sudbury, Massacheusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 115. ISBN 9780763754242.
  12. ^ Ronczkowski, M. R. (2006). Terrorism and Organized Hate Crime: Intelligence Gathering, Analysis and Investigations. CRC Press. pp. 102–103. ISBN 9780849378508.
  13. ^ "Zetas and MS-13 Join Forces in Guatemala". Fox News Latino. April 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  14. ^ MS13 InSight Crime (September 22, 2021) Archived June 2, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ a b "Gangs of New York", Brad Hamilton, New York Post (October 28, 2007) Archived October 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "RI.gov: Rhode Island Government". www.ri.gov.
  17. ^ "The US now considers these cartels and gangs terrorist groups. Here's what to know about them". cnn.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  18. ^ "Government of Canada lists seven transnational criminal organizations as terrorist entities". canada.ca. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  19. ^ Lotz, Avery (January 22, 2025). "Executive order list: What executive orders did President Trump sign and what to know". Axios. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Terrorist Designations of International Cartels". United States Department of State. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
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