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<p>The focus of this paper is to assess the transnational and criminal capacity of MS-13. We do so by comparing the ego networks of MS-13 members in Los Angeles and San Salvador. Social network analysis has helped illuminate a variety of gang-related phenomena. However, little is known about its application to the comparative study of gangs in different contexts. To achieve this, we adapted elements of the Eurogang Youth Survey to measure transnational social networks, activities, and behaviors based on structured interviews with MS-13 gang members in Los Angeles (n = 37) and San Salvador (n = 89). Our analysis compares ego network structure (network size) and network composition (residency) across samples. We assess whether the residency of the gang member’s ego network is related to the likelihood of engaging in various types of criminal behavior, including trafficking of humans, guns, and drugs. One clear pattern that emerged from this analysis is that the total number of alters—people with whom the respondent would feel comfortable engaging in crime or discussing criminal opportunities—consists primarily of people in the same location. This was true for both samples. However, the Los Angeles gang member networks are much less involved in criminal activity than those in San Salvador. While MS-13 is frequently portrayed as a transnational gang involved in complex international criminal activities, the participants in this study exhibited transnational social networks that were more constrained than widespread depictions of the gang would suggest.</p>

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Differences in Ego Networks Between MS-13 Gang Members in Los Angeles and San Salvador: Assessing the Gang’s Transnational Capacity

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月5日

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  • Lidia E. Nuño,
  • Edward R. Maguire,
  • Andrew M. Fox,
  • Charles M. Katz

摘要

The focus of this paper is to assess the transnational and criminal capacity of MS-13. We do so by comparing the ego networks of MS-13 members in Los Angeles and San Salvador. Social network analysis has helped illuminate a variety of gang-related phenomena. However, little is known about its application to the comparative study of gangs in different contexts. To achieve this, we adapted elements of the Eurogang Youth Survey to measure transnational social networks, activities, and behaviors based on structured interviews with MS-13 gang members in Los Angeles (n = 37) and San Salvador (n = 89). Our analysis compares ego network structure (network size) and network composition (residency) across samples. We assess whether the residency of the gang member’s ego network is related to the likelihood of engaging in various types of criminal behavior, including trafficking of humans, guns, and drugs. One clear pattern that emerged from this analysis is that the total number of alters—people with whom the respondent would feel comfortable engaging in crime or discussing criminal opportunities—consists primarily of people in the same location. This was true for both samples. However, the Los Angeles gang member networks are much less involved in criminal activity than those in San Salvador. While MS-13 is frequently portrayed as a transnational gang involved in complex international criminal activities, the participants in this study exhibited transnational social networks that were more constrained than widespread depictions of the gang would suggest.