ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

MS-13

MS-13 is a group of people who do bad and harmful things together. They act like a big family, but instead of doing good things, they do bad things like hurting people, selling drugs, and committing crimes.

To understand what MS-13 is, let's first talk about what a gang is. A gang is a group of people who hang out together and do things together. Sometimes they are just groups of friends who like to spend time together, but other times they do bad things together. MS-13 is a gang, but it is not a good one. Just like how some families are good and some families are bad, some gangs are good and some gangs are bad.

MS-13 started a long time ago in El Salvador, which is a country in Central America. People who lived there were facing many problems like poverty, violence, and political instability. Some young people started to form gangs for protection and to feel like they belong to a group. So, the first members of MS-13 were from El Salvador.

Over time, MS-13 grew and expanded to other countries like the United States, Mexico, and Honduras. Members of MS-13 are known for their tattoos and the way they dress. They are usually very violent and do not care about hurting others. They do things like selling drugs, stealing, and hurting people who get in their way. They often fight with other gangs, and their fights can be very dangerous.

Why do people join MS-13? Sometimes, people join gangs because they want to feel like they belong to a group. Other times, they join because they feel like they have no other choice. Maybe their families are struggling or they live in a dangerous neighborhood where they feel like they need protection. But joining a gang like MS-13 is a bad choice. It can lead to getting in trouble with the police, going to jail, or getting hurt.

In summary, MS-13 is a group of people who do bad things together. They started in El Salvador and have since spread to other countries like the United States. They are known for being violent and causing trouble. Joining a gang is never a good choice, even if it seems like the only option.