It is also referred to as the best known international street gang in the world. Immigration authorities only granted political shelter to a few. The government began a program of deportation of foreign-born residents convicted of a wide range of crimes. The children learned English faster than their parents, who faced discrimination and low wages. As poor migrant teens in Los Angeles, they were caught again in a conflict.
Even though their historical roots lie in Central America and the cities of the United States, much of the recent growth of the MS13 has been concentrated in Mexico. The gang is strongest in the border region with Guatemala, especially the state of …show more content…
Deportation plays a large role in the spread and union of international cliques. Los Angeles Times explains deportation issues as a “Merry-go-round”, giving the example of Cruz-Mendoza who, after committing three crimes and “serving little more than a year in jail, Cruz-Mendoza was deported for a third time in January” (Lopez, Connel, Kraul). The technology of deportation and travel, along with National Geographic’s documentaries about MS-13, spread both people and the knowledge of gang activity (World’s