Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, is a violent gang with roots in El Salvador. Since its formation in Los Angeles in the 1980s, the gang has expanded its reach and influence, leading to a significant increase in crime rates and violence in the United States, Central America, and beyond. Various governments, including those in El Salvador, the United States, and other Central American countries, have implemented strategies to combat MS-13, focusing on suppression, intervention, and prevention programs. This article offers an in-depth examination of these efforts to counter MS-13’s growth and impact on affected communities.
Summary of Mara Salvatrucha
Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s to protect Salvadoran immigrants fleeing civil war in their home country (Barak et al., 2020). Initially, the gang was formed as a response to the violence experienced by Salvadorans at the hands of established Mexican-American and African-American gangs in Los Angeles. Over time, the gang expanded its criminal activities, engaging in drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, and brutal murders. MS-13 was known for employing gruesome violence to assert power and control, often using machetes and firearms to execute their rivals and intimidate communities (Finklea, 2018).
The gang’s structure is decentralized, with individual or “cliques” operating semi-autonomously while adhering to a standard set of rules and codes of conduct (Barak et al., 2020). This decentralized structure makes it difficult for law enforcement to target the gang’s leadership, as local cliques can continue their operations independently. MS-13 members are known to bear distinctive tattoos, often featuring the gang’s name, the numbers “13” or “XIII,” or other symbols associated with the gang, such as devil horns or the letters “M.S.” (Finklea, 2018). Additionally, gang members use hand signs, such as forming the letters “M” and “S” with their fingers, to identify themselves and communicate with one another.
MS-13 has evolved into a transnational criminal organization with an estimated membership of 50,000 to 70,000 individuals in the United States, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and other countries (Schultze-Kraft et al., 2018). The gang’s growth has been facilitated by deportation policies in the United States, which have sent thousands of convicted MS-13 members back to their home countries, where they have continued their criminal activities and recruited new members (Barak et al., 2020).
Government Response to MS-13
To combat MS-13, the Salvadoran government and other nations have adopted various strategies, including law enforcement operations, legislative actions, and social programs. These efforts can be grouped into three main categories: suppression, intervention, and prevention.
Suppression
Suppression efforts focus on using law enforcement and military force to dismantle and disrupt MS-13’s operations. In 2003, the Salvadoran government implemented the “Mano Dura” (Iron Fist) policy, which intensified law enforcement operations against gang members (Schultze-Kraft et al., 2018). Under this policy, gang membership was criminalized, and law enforcement officers were granted increased authority to arrest individuals based on suspicion of gang involvement or gang-related tattoos. The policy led to mass arrests and increased penalties for gang-related crimes.
In 2004, the policy evolved into “Super Mano Dura,” which granted law enforcement additional authority to conduct raids and searches and increased the minimum prison sentence for gang-related crimes (Barak et al., 2020). However, these policies have faced criticism for their potential to violate human rights and for failing to address the root causes of gang involvement.
In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) created a special task force in 2004 to target MS-13 called the MS-13 National Gang Task Force (Finklea, 2018). This task force collaborates with local and state law enforcement agencies to coordinate operations and intelligence-sharing efforts. In 2005, the United States designated MS-13 as a “transnational criminal organization” under Executive Order 13581, allowing for the freezing of assets and the imposition of sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the gang (The White House, n.d.). The United States has also conducted several operations to arrest and extradite high-ranking MS-13 members for prosecution, including the 2016 arrest of 56 MS-13 members in the Boston area (Barak et al., 2020). Furthermore, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) has led operations to detain and deport undocumented immigrants with ties to MS-13. However, this approach has also been criticized for its potential impact on innocent individuals and potentially exacerbating gang-related problems in Central America (Finklea, 2018).
Intervention
Intervention programs aim to deter at-risk youth from joining gangs and assist those who wish to leave the gang lifestyle. In 2012, the Salvadoran government initiated a gang truce, negotiating with MS-13 and rival gang Barrio 18 to reduce violence (Schultze-Kraft et al., 2018). The truce led to a significant reduction in homicides, but it was short-lived, as the government terminated its support for the initiative in 2014 due to public pressure and allegations of corruption (Finklea, 2018). Critics also argued that the truce allowed gangs to consolidate power and expand their criminal activities, ultimately undermining its intended goals.
In the United States, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (O.J.J.D.P.) has supported intervention programs such as the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program, which educates youth about the dangers of gang involvement and promotes positive decision-making skills (O.J.J.D.P., 2023). Another example is the Los Angeles-based Homeboy Industries, which provides support services, including job training, mental health counseling, and tattoo removal, for individuals seeking to leave gang life (Finklea, 2018). The organization also operates a bakery, a cafe, and a silkscreen business, offering employment opportunities to former gang members.
Prevention
Prevention efforts address the root causes of gang involvement, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. With support from international organizations, the Salvadoran government has developed programs that provide vocational training, education, and job opportunities for at-risk youth (U.S.A.I.D., 2022). One such program is the Youth Employment and Employability Project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, which aims to improve access to quality education and training for vulnerable youth in El Salvador (Schultze-Kraft et al., 2018). The project seeks to reduce dropout rates, promote gender equality in education, and facilitate connections between schools and local businesses to improve employment opportunities.
In the United States, the O.J.J.D.P. supports prevention programs like the Comprehensive Gang Model, which combines community mobilization, social intervention, and targeted suppression efforts to address gang-related issues (O.J.J.D.P., 2023). This model incorporates five core components: community mobilization, opportunities provision, social intervention, suppression, and organizational change and development. Additionally, the United States Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) has funded various programs in Central America to promote education, economic development, and social services, reducing gang membership’s appeal (U.S.A.I.D., 2022). These programs include initiatives such as the Crime and Violence Prevention Project, which focuses on strengthening community resilience to crime and violence, and the Youth Alliance Program, which promotes youth employability and entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
Combating MS-13 requires a multifaceted approach addressing the underlying factors driving gang involvement. Suppression, intervention, and prevention efforts have yielded varying degrees of success, but no single strategy can fully eradicate the threat posed by this notorious gang. Governments must continue developing and implementing innovative strategies to combat MS-13, addressing the root causes of gang involvement and fostering collaboration between law enforcement, community organizations, and international partners. Ultimately, the fight against MS-13 requires a sustained, coordinated effort from governments, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations.
References
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Schultze-Kraft, M., Chinchilla, F. A., & Moriconi, M. (2018). New perspectives on crime, violence and insecurity in Latin America. Crime, law and social change, 69, 465-473. Web.
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