MS-13
International criminal gang originating in Los Angeles, known for extreme violence.
Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s, initially formed to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the area. Over time, it evolved into a traditional criminal organization with a notorious reputation for extreme violence. The gang has a longstanding rivalry with the 18th Street gang. Following the end of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, many members were deported to El Salvador, either after the war or upon arrest, which facilitated the gang’s spread to Central America. Today, the gang is active across much of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America, with most members being Central American, particularly Salvadorans. Its history is closely tied to United States–El Salvador relations. In 2018, the gang’s U.S. membership of up to 10,000 accounted for less than one percent of the 1.4 million gang members in the country, and a similar share of gang-related murders. On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the process to designate MS-13 and other groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations; the order was officially enacted on February 20, 2025.
The etymology of the name is disputed. Some sources link it to La Mara, a street in San Salvador, and the Salvatrucha guerrillas who fought in the civil war. The word *mara* means “swarm” in Caliche slang, derived from *marabunta*, a fierce type of ant. “Salvatrucha” may combine “Salvadoran” and *trucha*, a Caliche word for being alert, and has been explained as a reference to Salvadoran peasants trained as guerrilla fighters for the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front. The number “13” is believed to stand for the letter M (the thirteenth letter of the alphabet) and may also pay homage to the Mexican Mafia prison gang.
Membership consists primarily of Salvadorans and Salvadoran Americans, but also includes Hondurans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and other Central and South Americans. Central Americans are the primary targets of the gang’s violence and threats. Many victims are minors, and minors also make up most suspects arrested for MS-13 killings. Members typically arrive in the United States as unaccompanied minors from Central America. School districts receiving these migrants were often reluctant to admit unaccompanied teenagers, leaving them at home and vulnerabl
- origin
- Los Angeles, California, 1980s
- primary nationality
- Salvadoran, also Honduran, Guatemalan, Mexican, other Central and South Americans
- known for
- Extreme violence, use of machetes, rivalry with 18th Street gang, recruitment of minors
- initiation ritual
- Jumping-in (13-second beating); some cliques require murder
Lore & Background
MS-13 was founded in Los Angeles in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants seeking protection from other gangs. The etymology of its name is disputed: some sources link it to La Mara street in San Salvador and the Salvatrucha guerrillas of the Salvadoran Civil War, while 'mara' means 'swarm' in Caliche slang and 'Salvatrucha' may combine 'Salvadoran' and 'trucha' (alert). The '13' is believed to stand for the letter M or to honor the Mexican Mafia. After the Salvadoran Civil War ended in 1992, many members were deported to El Salvador, spreading the gang to Central America. The gang is active in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America, with most members being Central American, particularly Salvadorans.
Reader's Guide
MS-13 originated in Los Angeles during the 1980s as a protective organization for Salvadoran immigrants facing threats from other local gangs, but it evolved into a conventional criminal enterprise. Its long-standing rivalry with the 18th Street gang is a defining feature. Following the Salvadoran Civil War’s end in 1992, many members were deported to El Salvador, which helped the gang spread across Central America, Mexico, Canada, and much of the United States. The gang’s membership is overwhelmingly Central American, particularly Salvadoran. Its history is deeply tied to U.S.–El Salvador relations; in early 2025, the U.S. government initiated the process to designate MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The gang’s name may derive from a San Salvador street, Salvadoran guerrilla fighters, and the number 13 representing the letter M or the Mexican Mafia. Members are typically impoverished young men, often homeless or estranged from family, who survive through minor drug dealing, theft, and extortion. They frequently use abandoned urban buildings as hideouts and meeting spots. MS-13 is notorious for extreme violence, including the use of machetes, and targets rival gangs, their families, police, and government officials. Infanticide and femicide are common in areas where the gang operates, with El Salvador having one of the highest femicide rates globally and very few convictions in such cases. Recruitment often targets minors, sometimes forcibly, and many members arrive in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors. Initiation typically involves a 13-second beating, and some factions require a murder for full membership. The gang has been recruited by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico’s drug war. U.S. authorities have conducted large-scale raids against MS-13, and officials describe its ambitions to become a national brand with an organization comparable to the Mafia. The gang’s presence has shaped immigration and security policies in both the U.S. and Central America.
Did You Know?
- The gang's initiation ritual involves a 13-second beating known as 'jumping-in'; some cliques require a murder for full membership.
- MS-13's weapon of choice is a machete, in contrast to other gangs that prefer guns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when did MS-13 form?
The group first emerged in Los Angeles, California, during the 1980s, originally created by Salvadoran immigrants to defend their community against rival street gangs. Over the decades it transformed from a protective street group into a full-scale international criminal enterprise.
What is the 'jumping-in' initiation?
New recruits must endure a thirteen-second beating by existing members as part of their entry into the organization. Some local factions go further, requiring a killing as a condition for full membership.
Who is MS-13's primary rival?
The 18th Street gang has been MS-13's most enduring and deadly adversary since both groups were active in Los Angeles. Their long-running conflict has driven much of the violence associated with both organizations across Central America and the United States.
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