MS-13
Central American gang
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated among Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
The gang is known for extreme violence, including machete attacks, and has spread throughout the United States and Central America.
MS-13 members are often identified by elaborate tattoos and use of hand signs.
The gang is frequently cited in political debates about immigration and border security.
Federal prosecutors charged several MS-13 members with racketeering.
Tiny Pacific-coast republic
- Central AmericaIsthmus connecting two continents
- Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
- civil warDomestic armed conflict
immigration · poverty · 1980s · refugee · Westlake · transnational · TPS · migration
Obtaining through threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- murder-for-hireCommissioned lethal crime
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
kidnapping · machete · contract killing · money laundering · drug dealing · witness intimidation · RICO · indictment
Heavy broad-bladed knife
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- dismembermentRemoval of limbs
beheading · revenge killing · retaliation · hit · target · victim · bloodshed · massacre
Permanent dermal design
- devil hornsTwo-finger rock gesture
- hand signSignal made with fingers
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- blue and whiteTwo-tone ceramic palette
pitchfork · facial tattoo · gang signs · tagging · territory marking · branding · identity · membership
Large South American rodent
- cliqueExclusive social group
- homeboySlang for local friend
- shot-callerPerson in charge
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
greenlit · hood · turf · set · rival · recruitment · hierarchy · loyalty
El Salvador
Tiny Pacific-coast republic
- Central AmericaIsthmus connecting two continents
- Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
civil war · immigration · poverty · 1980s · refugee · Westlake · transnational · TPS · migration · asylum
extortion
Obtaining through threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- murder-for-hireCommissioned lethal crime
smuggling · kidnapping · machete · contract killing · money laundering · drug dealing · witness intimidation · RICO · indictment · prosecution
machete
Heavy broad-bladed knife
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
dismemberment · beheading · revenge killing · retaliation · hit · target · victim · bloodshed · massacre · execution-style
tattoo
Permanent dermal design
- devil hornsTwo-finger rock gesture
- hand signSignal made with fingers
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
blue and white · pitchfork · facial tattoo · gang signs · tagging · territory marking · branding · identity · membership
mara
Large South American rodent
- cliqueExclusive social group
- homeboySlang for local friend
- shot-callerPerson in charge
initiation · greenlit · hood · turf · set · rival · recruitment · hierarchy · loyalty · brotherhood
- El SalvadorSan Salvador, El Salvador, San Miguel, Montecristo, Berlin
- Latin crimedrug trafficking, drug cartel, gang violence, kidnapping, human trafficking
- Crime SyndicatesCosa Nostra, Five Families, Sicilian Mafia, Medellin Cartel, Irish Mob
- immigrationimmigrant, immigrants, visa, refugee, citizenship
- Central AmericaNicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate
MS-13FBI
U.S. domestic intelligence agency
police department · DEA · law enforcement · federal law enforcement · Homeland Security
MS-13community center
Shared neighborhood gathering space
YMCA · neighborhood association · youth ministry · after-school program · Salvation Army