How is MS-13 a Threat to US National Security?

Street gangs have been a regional problem in the United States for a long time. The Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs, with over 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities in the US. Innocent people have been exposed to violence from these gangs for decades, but todays gangs seem more violent and organized than ever. Some even seem to be growing and evolving into transnational threats. These evolving groups are known as Transnational Street Gangs because of their ability to operate across national borders. Spreading throughout the United States, they are assimilating smaller gangs and bringing a culture of violence and destruction everywhere they go. Known for brutality, these groups are already threatening the stability of several countries in Central America. The most widely recognized and publicized of these gangs is Mara Salvatrucha aka MS-13. MS-13 first appeared on the streets of Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Started by a group of El Salvadoran refugees, the gang has spread to 42 states and grown to become one of the most violent gangs in America. One of the fastest growing gangs in the US, MS-13 has also spread to six countries in Central America and Canada. Although specific numbers vary, sources estimate there are between 10,000 and 20,000 MS-13 members in the United States and up to 250,000 in Central America. This paper will look at the international threat from MS-13 by examining the gangs history and identifying the characteristics that make MS-13 an international problem. The paper will then identify immediate and developing areas of concern and recommend how the US should mitigate the resulting threats.