ms-13

Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan: How El Salvador Went from Violent Past to Safer Future

For decades, El Salvador struggled with gang violence that terrorized communities across the country. High murder rates, extortion, and insecurity became part of daily life for Salvadorans—it forced many to flee the country. To confront the gang problem, Nayib Bukele … Read more

MS-13 or MS13 Gang: A Comprehensive Profile of the Mara Salvatrucha Gang

The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS13, is perhaps the most notorious street gang in the Western Hemisphere. While it has its origins in the poor, refugee-laden neighborhoods of 1980s Los Angeles, the gang’s reach now spans from Central America to Europe. A predatory criminal organization, the MS13 lives mostly from extortion. But the gang’s resilience owes to its strong social bonds, which are created and strengthened via … Read more