MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. It was initially formed by Salvadoran immigrants who had fled the civil war in El Salvador and settled in Los Angeles. The gang started as a group to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other established gangs in the area, particularly Mexican, Asian, and African-American gangs
. The founding location is specifically the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles. The gang's name reflects its roots: "Mara" means gang, "Salvatrucha" refers to Salvadoran street toughness, and "13" signifies the letter M, the 13th letter of the alphabet, indicating allegiance to the Mexican Mafia
. After the Salvadoran Civil War ended in 1992, many MS-13 members were deported back to El Salvador, which facilitated the gang's spread to Central America, including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Today, MS-13 operates internationally, with presence in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Spain, but its origin remains Los Angeles, California
. In summary, MS-13 is from Los Angeles, California, founded by Salvadoran immigrants in the 1980s as a protective gang that evolved into a transnational criminal organization
