While the notorious gang MS-13 has been a prominent topic in news headlines, a more thorough investigation of their activities reveals the alarming extent of their terror, necessitating a closer examination to truly understand the nature of this organization. The group, known as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), which translates roughly to Salvadoran Gang, is classified by various authorities as a transnational terrorist organization. It emerged from Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles during the 1980s and has expanded into a formidable force of approximately 10,000 members in the United States, with an estimated global membership of 50,000 to 70,000 individuals. The gang is predominantly composed of foreign nationals, many of whom are in the U.S. illegally.

Armed with machetes, firearms, and an unrestrained capacity for violence, MS-13 instills fear within communities, extorts local businesses, and actively targets law enforcement agencies. Their brutal tactics are designed to seize control of territories and intimidate the populace. In response to their increasing threat, the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have initiated terrorism charges against MS-13 since 2020. Furthermore, an executive order issued by President Trump on January 20, 2025, designated MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under 8 U.S.C. 1189, highlighting the severity of their threat. Many mainstream media outlets, including CBS, have been criticized for downplaying these realities and promoting a narrative that obscures the grave dangers posed by this gang. As evidenced by the resounding support for Trump in the 2024 election, the American public is demanding action against such threats.

MS-13 The U.S. Program

Federal court documents reveal that MS-13 operates through localized groups known as cliques across New York City, Long Island, and numerous other communities in the United States. The gang has also established a presence in El Salvador, Honduras, and various regions in Europe. Their operations are predominantly funded through drug trafficking and extortion, and they are infamous for their brutal killings of adversaries, disloyal members, and innocent civilians. In the Eastern District of New York alone, MS-13 is associated with numerous homicides. Since approximately 2021, the gang's U.S. operations have unified under a structure referred to as the U.S. Program, which is overseen by a council of senior leaders known as La Mesa or The Table. Most of these leaders are incarcerated but allegedly coordinate murders across the nation, with high-profile incidents reported in states including New York, California, and Colorado.

MS-13s Terrorist Campaign: Documented Evidence

According to the legal definition outlined in 18 U.S.C. 2331, terrorism is defined as the use of violence to intimidate civilians, influence policy, or disrupt government operations through acts of murder or chaos. MS-13s origins can be traced back to the civil war in El Salvador, which led to a mass exodus of people, making the groups classification as a terrorist organization fitting. El Salvador officially designated MS-13 as a terrorist group in 2015, and U.S. prosecutors frequently pursue terrorism charges against its leaders for their heinous actions. The following are notable cases that exemplify the gangs violent tactics:

• Santa Cruz Murders (California, 2016): Salvadorans Erick Escalante-Torres and Jose Noe Ramirez-Avelar conspired to murder a rival gang member to control their territory, disposing of evidence from another homicide. Both were convicted in 2020 and received sentences of 27 and 22 years, respectively, for charges related to racketeering and murder.
• ICE Arrests in Houston (Texas, 2017): MS-13 member Pedro Cruz-Rodriquez was apprehended on charges linked to the aggravated murder of Jaime Roberto Loza Garay and the kidnapping of four other men in El Salvador. He faced charges of domestic terrorism that threatened national security in his home country.
• Long Island Machete Slaying (New York, 2017): Members of a Salvadoran-led MS-13 clique brutally attacked Carlos Rivas-Majano in a park, mutilating his body to instill fear in rivals. This act is tied to over 70 murders since 2016, clearly underscoring their terrorist intent.
• Maryland Murder of Autistic Woman (2018): MS-13 member Walter Javier Martinize pleaded guilty to raping and strangling 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton. While incarcerated, he confessed to four murders and multiple rapes in a letter.
• Murder Conspiracy in New York and Virginia (2018): Kingpin Miguel Angel Corea Diaz was indicted for conspiring to murder and traffic drugs, impacting over 20 individuals. He received a life sentence for his crimes.
• Queens and Long Island Killings (20182020): Salvadoran leaders Edenilson Velasquez Larin and Hugo Diaz Amaya were indicted for orchestrating multiple murders, including that of Andy Peralta, which instigated terror within local neighborhoods.
• Ranfla Nacional Indictment (2021): Fourteen members of MS-13s Board of Directors, led by Borromeo Enrique Henriquez, were indicted for terrorism-related charges, operating military-style camps equipped with weapons.
• Recent Leader Arrests (2023): Prominent leaders Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, and Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo were charged with racketeering and conspiracy to support terrorism.
• Kingpin Arrest in Mexico (2025): Roman-Bardales, along with 26 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders, faces serious charges related to terrorism and racketeering, with a history of smuggling and violence.
• Maryland Takedown (2025): Salvadoran leader David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman was arrested in Hyattsville, charged with extortion and affiliations with terrorism.

While the individual backgrounds of these alleged MS-13 criminals may be downplayed in the media, the focus should remain on the heinous acts they perpetrate. The narrative spun by certain journalists often leads to sensationalized accounts that distract from the real threats posed by these individuals.

MS-13s Terrorist DNA

MS-13 transcends the label of a mere street gang; it operates as a fully-fledged terrorist organization through its methodical violence and controlling tactics. The gang's public displays of brutality, often designed to instill maximum fear, paralyze entire communities. For instance, the notorious machete slaying of a young man in New York was intended as a stark warning to both rivals and the local population. MS-13 exercises control over businesses and families through extortion tactics, demanding payments under the threat of violence to fund their operations. Furthermore, they have targeted law enforcement with ambushes and assassination plots aimed at undermining governmental authority, exemplified by attacks on police officers in California and Virginia. Beyond their violent methods, MS-13 seeks political influence, using its power to intimidate officials and sway policy, particularly in Central America. This mix of public terror, economic domination, assaults on authorities, and political manipulation categorizes MS-13 as a terrorist entity, similar to groups that wield fear as a weapon to accomplish their objectives.

Medias Failure to Expose MS-13s Terrorist Threat

Many traditional media outlets, such as CBS, CNN, and NBC, often minimize or overlook the terrorist activities of MS-13, undermining public awareness of the serious threat it poses. Instead of focusing on the gang's ruthless murders, extortions, and assaults on law enforcement, these networks frequently frame MS-13 as a consequence of migration or poverty, neglecting its organized campaign of violence. This oversight leaves the American populace unprepared for the genuine threat that MS-13 represents, further eroding trust in mainstream journalism. Such selective reporting also reflects a broader trend seen in various establishment failures, such as biased algorithms employed by popular search engines that suppress balanced perspectives on significant legislative acts like the SAVE Act. This pattern of media bias seems to shield criminals and terrorists, obscuring the uncomfortable reality that the American public must confront.

Emerging from the struggles of Salvadoran immigrants and fueled by foreign nationals, MS-13 continues to wreak havoc across the United States, from California to New York. Their extensive history of murders, public acts of terror, and political machinations unequivocally prove that they are far more than just a gang. The prosecutions led by the DOJ, the designation of MS-13 as an FTO by President Trump, and the continuous public outcry underscore the urgent need for tangible and lasting responses to this threat. Although some MS-13 cases may not be instantly recognizable as acts of terrorism, the underlying truth remains clear: American citizens deserve a safe environment, free from the brazen terror imposed by such organizations. To that end, President Trumps decision to classify MS-13 as a terrorist group aligns with the demands of the American public.

Written by M. Ray Evans, a U.S. Navy veteran currently residing in Northeast Florida with his wife, Grace. Evans is a recently retired senior executive within the international real estate development sector, having worked in over ten countries, predominantly in East Asia, where he established a commendable reputation throughout his career. He identifies as a conservative and a patriot.

Mei-Ling Chen