**GAO-10-395**                      Published: Apr 23, 2010. Publicly Released: Apr 23, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

Thousands of gang members in the United States belong to gangs such as MS-13 and 18th Street that are also active in Central American countries. Federal entities with responsibilities for addressing Central American gangs include the National Security Council (NSC); the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), and State; and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). GAO was asked to review federal efforts to combat transnational gangs. This report addresses (1) the extent to which the federal government has developed a strategy to combat these gangs, and (2) how federal agencies have implemented the strategy and other programs to combat these gangs, coordinated their actions, and assessed their results. GAO examined federal agencies' antigang plans, resources, and measures; interviewed federal, state, and local officials in seven localities representing varying population sizes and geographic regions; and interviewed U.S. and foreign officials in El Salvador and Guatemala where U.S. agencies have implemented antigang programs. The results of these interviews are not generalizable.

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## Topics

International Affairs

Crime preventionCrimesCriminalsDrug traffickingFederal agenciesGangsInteragency relationsLaw enforcementLaw enforcement agenciesPerformance measuresProgram managementStrategic planningData coordinationInformation sharingProgram coordinationProgram implementationProgram goals or objectives