Franklin Reinders Mr. Holwerda Law 10 November 2015 MS-13 Maria Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, is a criminal gang that is commonly regarded as one of the worst in North America. Mara Salvatrucha translates to “Salvadorian gang”. It was started in Los Angeles, California, and is made up of mostly Salvadorans and other Central Americans. The gang was started by El Salvador immigrants who fled the war-torn country in the 1980’s. Their motto is “rape, control, kill,” which explains why law enforcement is so concerned with them. Some of their rivals are the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, and Los Negros. But, they also have many allies, including the Surenos, Gulf Cartel, and Mexican Mafia. MS-13 also has many different branches within their gang. Like most gangs, they have their own sign language and tattoos that they use to distinguish themselves. Some common tattoos are “MS”, “Salvatrucha”, “Devil Horns”, and other symbols. But, a study in 2007 found that tattoos within the MS-13 gang are becoming less and less common so that their crimes will not be noticed. One of their hand symbols is the “devil’s head”. It makes an ‘M’ when flipped upside down. This sign is similar to the same one associated with heavy metal fans. It is believed that the first MS-13 members attended heavy metal concerts …show more content…
This makes it one of the biggest Hispanic gangs in the country. MS-13 has branched out from Los Angeles into all parts of the country, especially San Francisco and Washington D.C. Like most gangs, they are responsible for a multitude of crimes such as drug trafficking, extortion, murder, child prostitution, and many others. In 2004, a MS-13 National Gang Task Force was started by the FBI. Many MS-13 members have been arrested, and then deported back to El Salvador and other Central American countries. Because of these deportations, hundreds of new members have been recruited in their home countries to join the