Street gangs have been a part of American culture for centuries. As a child growing up in the 1980s on the north side of Fort Worth, Texas, I saw my fair share of gang activity and the violence associated with it. I didn't know about a notorious and deadly gang that was transforming, known as Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. What began as a street gang, MS-13 now operates across much of the United States and is "one of the most violent and fastest-growing transnational street gangs" according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The American people must realize the great danger posed by MS-13. With some street gangs relatively harmless, there are others like Mara Salvatrucha who are becoming more ferocious and territorial. The beginning of MS-13 can be traced back to Los Angeles in the 1980s. * Initially, Salvadoran families fled the country to escape the civil war, “which left more than 70,000 people dead and a fifth of the population displaced.” (Abadinsky, 188). “El Salvador is one of the poorest countries in Latin America with nearly half of its population living in poverty.” (Abadinsky, 188). Since the United States was known as the Land of Opportunity, the combination of war and poverty was a good reason for Salvadorans to come to the United States and call it “home.” Initially, members of the Mara Salvatrucha were a group of Salvadorans who “banded together for support and protection from other gangs already present in Los Angeles…” (Kindt, Post, and Schneider, 248). The common initiation of a potential gang member involves being beaten by several gang members, also called "jumped in" described in Gangs and Law Enforcement. (Schmidt, 39). Immediately, these new gang members were introduced... middle of paper... into the most threatening terrorist networks and criminal gangs." PALGRAVE MACMILLAN. 2009. Print.Mitchell, Mitch. “Star-Telegram: 67 members of gang arrested in North Texas.” June 14, 2011. Web. November 11, 2011. “MS 13 GANG.COM: MS 13 in Texas.” Web. November 11, 2011. Schmidt, Linda M.. “Gangs and Law Enforcement.” Charles C. Thomas-PUBLISHER, LTD. 2007. Print.Wilber, Del Quentin. "The Washington Post: The Crime Scene." January 11, 2010. Web. November 11, 2011. < http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime- scene/gangs/ms-13-gang-out-to-kill-rape-an.html>* No information provided specific reference since this information is in practically all sources and becomes public knowledge after doing a lot of reading on the topic.