The invisible exile of MS-13 in Mexico
Briefly

Largo, a former MS-13 gang member, now lives in Tapachula, Mexico, attempting to start anew as a tattoo artist. Having fled El Salvador due to President Bukele's harsh crackdown on gangs, he joins a wave of MS-13 and Barrio 18 members who have sought refuge in Mexico. The influx stems from a significant state of emergency initiated in 2022, leading many gang members to escape the intense repression. Largo's life has drastically changed from extortion in El Salvador to a quieter existence in a city ruled by drug cartels, aiming to survive and thrive.
Largo, a former MS-13 member in Tapachula, seeks to rebuild his life as a tattoo artist, escaping El Salvador's gang crackdown and the prison population.
The crackdown by Salvadoran President Bukele resulted in many gang members fleeing to Mexico, utilizing established routes of those who previously escaped their violence.
Read at english.elpais.com
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