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, but today's gangs seem more violent and organized than ever. Some even seem to be growing and evolving into transnational threats. The most widely recognized and publicized of these evolving gangs is Mara Salvatrucha (aka MS-13). This paper looks at the international threat from MS-13 by examining the gang's history and identifying the characteristics that make MS-13 an international problem. Building on this analysis, the paper identifies immediate and developing areas of concern and recommends how the US should mitigate the resulting threats.