How the U.S. Fueled the Rise of MS-13

Share:
February 13, 2018
by
Patrice Taddonio

The notorious gang known as MS-13 has become a focal point in President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration, with the president citing the gang’s violence to call for a crackdown on borders and a ramp-up of deportations.

But how did MS-13 come to be in the first place?

In this video drawn from FRONTLINE’s reporting for the new documentary, The Gang Crackdown, learn how the United States itself played a key role — first when it backed El Salvador’s government in a brutal civil war that displaced scores of civilians, and then when President Bill Clinton fast-tracked deportations in an attempt to stem gang violence.

For more on MS-13, watch The Gang Crackdown.

Patrice Taddonio

Patrice Taddonio, Digital Writer & Audience Development Strategist, FRONTLINE

Twitter:

@ptaddonio

The Trust Project Journalistic Standards

In order to foster a civil and literate discussion that respects all participants, FRONTLINE has the following guidelines for commentary. By submitting comments here, you are consenting to these rules:

Readers' comments that include profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, harassment, or are defamatory, sexist, racist, violate a third party's right to privacy, or are otherwise inappropriate, will be removed. Entries that are unsigned or are "signed" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. We reserve the right to not post comments that are more than 400 words. We will take steps to block users who repeatedly violate our commenting rules, terms of use, or privacy policies. You are fully responsible for your comments.

blog comments powered by Disqus

More Stories

Flint Water
Nine Former Michigan Officials, Including Ex-Gov. Rick Snyder, Charged in Flint Water Crisis
More than six years after residents learned that they had been exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water and a deadly disease outbreak, top leadership in the state and city at the time have been indicted on criminal charges in connection with their role in the crisis.
January 14, 2021
Rick Snyder Flint former Michigan governor
Michigan Ex-Gov. Rick Snyder Charged in Flint Water Crisis
Michigan’s former governor Rick Snyder was charged Wednesday with willful neglect of duty for his role in the deadly Flint water crisis that poisoned residents and is still overshadowing the city.
January 13, 2021
WEBER
Judge Rules U.S. Indian Health Service Must Disclose Sex-Abuse Report
The report was commissioned after a WSJ-FRONTLINE investigation revealed the agency’s failure to protect patients from a pedophile doctor.
January 13, 2021
Trump Supporters Hold
What Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Said in the Lead Up to the Capitol Riot
Leading up to the attack, Jones had been at the forefront — along with several other Trump supporters — of amplifying false claims that the election had been rigged.
January 12, 2021
Show more

Next on Frontline

The story of how crisis and tragedy prepared Joe Biden to become America’s next president.

President Biden

January 19, 2021
The story of how crisis and tragedy prepared Joe Biden to become America’s next president.