Gangsters Without Borders: An Ethnography of a Salvadoran Street Gang

by T.W. Ward

Based on author T.W. Ward's eight and a half years in Los Angeles conducting participant observation with MS 13, Gangsters Without An Ethnography of a Salvadoran Street Gang takes an inside look at gang life in the United States and in a global context.

Taking us through their journey from their homeland in El Salvador to the mean streets of Los Angeles, Gangsters Without Borders offers a perspective from the point of view of the hard core members who live this hard, fast, and dangerous life.

A powerful and engaging overview of gang dynamics, Gangsters Without Borders contextualizes the sources and severity of the marginalization felt by Salvadoran immigrants and debunks myths about street gangs in the United States. This account of gangsters' lives before, during, and after their involvement with the gang delivers an intimate and analytical portrait unlike any other.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Ethnography, American

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

Reviews

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Had to read for class but I enjoyed it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

had to read for intro to anth- interesting book, very sad ☹️ enjoyed learning about a group of people that there are a ton of misconceptions about. really respect the author for putting himself in such a dangerous position, resulted in very genuine accounts of gangster stories without too much commentary from the author to let the stories shine. overall learned a lot about a very relevant topic- would recommend to anyone looking for a nonfiction read.

rating- 3.5/5 stars (just because nonfiction is not my favorite but it was a good book)

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gangsters Without Borders is a book that I honestly cannot recommend enough. Ward uses his personal experience, as well as research to explain the complexities of gang life. He also demonstrates a thorough understanding of gang theory and provides examples throughout the work. This book was used in addition to a textbook for my Gangs & Deviant Behaviors class, and I thought it would be uninteresting and hard to read -- it was the exact opposite. I've actually read it a couple of times since that class.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both solidly readable and solidly educational about the MS-13 gang from the perspective of an ethnographer who spent years getting to know gang members, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Even though this is not the gang making headlines in 2025, I still felt like understanding more about the inner workings of one well-known, headliner, and widely-spread international gang gave me useful perspective about the motives and workings of the Latinx and inner city gang systems as a whole. Fascinating topic and book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific book that I can not recommend enough for anyone who wants to learn about gangs. The author does a great job at breaking down misconceptions about gangs and gang violence and the stories of the gang members described in the book are interesting and pull you in. I had to stop reading this at work because I wasn’t getting any work done; I couldn’t put the book down!

[Isabelle Dostal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for a criminal justice course, but enjoyed it! It’s a topic I’d never choose to read on, but it was interesting, sad, and thought provoking.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and well-researched ethnography of the Mara Salvatrucha in Los Angeles. I read it for a research paper I wrote, and it served me well.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really interesting insight on the MS-13 gang. The author spent a 9 years befriending gang members and then writing about the ins and outs of gang life. I found it especially interesting how he made it so evident why people were interested in joining in the first place. I would've given it a higher rating but the author came off as snobbish and a bit too technical for my liking.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as background for a research paper I'm doing on Salvadoran gangs, and while not directly on point because I'm focusing on the gangs in El Salvador and this book was on LA MS13, it was still an easy, interesting read and good ethnography. Ward provided a combination of personal stories and gang theory that balanced well in making this readable academic literature.

[Ana Platero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this book. I had to read it for an cultural anthropology class that I was taking and I wasn't sure how I was gonna like it. I thought it would be boring but it wasn't not even a little bit.

[Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone interested in the history and workings of MS-13. Gives important insight that you will not get from watching a television special. Discredits multiple myths of public perception of MS-13, as well as discrediting government agencies' misinformed assumptions of MS.

[Crystal Gearhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting ethnography on the MS-13 gang in LA. Written in the late 1990's, the gang members that were studied were primarily first generation Americans. I greatly enjoyed this book.

[julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this for school so i wasn’t really interested in the topic😃 some chapters were interesting & it was well written but it wasn’t my cup of tea

[Céline]

A fascinating read that delves into truths, debunks myths, and humanizes the members of MS 13, bringing a stronger sense of understanding of these gang members.