Introduction
The Mexican Mafia or La eMe is a ruthless California prison gang. Formed in the 1950s initially to stay safe inside the prison complex especially from the violence perpetrated by other gangs. The La eMe comprised of a small band of gang leaders of other gangs. This gang at present has allegiance with over one thousand street gangs in Los Angeles alone. The La eMe imposes a code of conduct for other gang members to follow. In addition, it takes a tax for protection purposes. The prison gang operates based on a separate code. The contents include lifetime membership, no snitching, no disrespect towards any member, no involvement with any family of a member sexually, no homosexuality, and no cowardice. The nonadherence to the code will result in death (Blatchford, 2009).
The La eMe has a large history of revenge killings including that of a cinema crew for violating the code in the storyline. The gangs that answer to the La eMe do not consider obedience to them as a matter of choice. The word on the street is that if the Mexican Mafia decides to kill someone, they will do so at any cost and after any number of years. The leadership of the gang is impossible to make out since there is no central command. They share loose alliances with other gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood while sharing the enmity of the Bloods and the Crips (Portland State University, 2011).
The primary source of income for the La eMe is drugs. They engage directly and indirectly through the involvement of other street gangs that operate in Los Angeles. The gang collects a tax from other gangs operating in the neighborhoods. The gang has undisputed influence on these gangs. The once notorious drive-by shootings came to an end only because of the decree issued by the Mexican Mafia. However, they also exert pressure to kill anyone including innocent women and children for revenge. This monstrous gang operates from almost all the prisons in the region. They have a fierce reputation and in-house gang units remain powerless to take action while the La eMe runs the prison without any publicity (Enriqueza and Mendoza, 2013).
Threat to Homeland Security
The threat for homeland security is imminent considering the large amount of guns, ammunition, and drugs handled by this gang. The unchallenged authority that they have over other street gangs is a noteworthy threat to the ideals of Homeland Security. The primary issue is the lack of appropriate information to tie the gang to possible money laundering schemes. It is common knowledge that terrorist organizations deal in drugs and weapons to survive. Hence, any group that tries to smuggle guns and drugs from the South of the border is a suspect for possible terror links.
The secondary problem for Homeland Security is that this gang does not have a proper chain of command. Without that, it is difficult to extract information even from arrested members. Custodial deaths among would-be witnesses against the gang are both common and unstoppable. Their alliance with the Aryan Brotherhood is of particular interest since it is a White Supremacy group. The potential threat constituted by this dangerous combination could even account for a large-scale bombing scheme. Despite no evidence of any links to Islamic terrorist organizations, the La eMe is still a contender for domestic terrorism. Domestic terrorism threats are more than real in the United States (Sanchez-Jankowski, 2003).
The potential of a prison gang to command word on the streets despite perusal by the FBI and several other local law enforcement agencies point to a prospective threat. The legitimate economy of any city or state depends on the ability of the government to keep criminal activity in check. The majority of the revenue and goods for the State of California arrive by sea. Hence, the docks become the primary source of commerce in this region. The docks are also a place from where the La eMe moves its merchandise. Should the Mexican Mafia control the docks, it will have the power to determine the economic future of the United States. Furthermore, the docks come under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security. A terrorist attack or an ill-timed strike of dockworkers will result in similar damage to the US economy.
Regional and Global capabilities
The regional influence this gang has in the city of Los Angeles is phenomenal. There are entire neighborhoods that even the police will not enter during late evening hours. They control the influx of drug operations in the California belt. Their influence among Hispanic gangs is considerable. They have suppliers from Mexico who supply them with Heroin, Marijuana, Meth, and a variety of fantasy influencing drug pills. Although they do not have any association with the Mexican Drug Cartel at this time except for the sake of acquiring drugs, it is only a matter of time before they find a common interest other than profiteering. The cartel is not popular with the United States or the DEA and will have an agenda to supply a prison gang with drugs regularly. The Cartel always wanted a network without snitches and for this reason, the La eMe will make a formidable ally for them. The involvement with drugs is dangerous since almost all terrorist outfits depend on drug money to bankroll their activities. Connections in the drug trade have dastardly possibilities including harboring members of a terrorist organization among their safe havens within the boundaries of the city of Los Angeles.
The members of the La eMe have taken residence in a number of nations including several South American countries. This region is the key for the survival of this gang. Unless they control the drugs, the supply, and enforce the street laws brutally, the gang loses its invulnerability. The gang’s affiliation to gun running cartels is a potential threat in balancing the integrity of the entire region. There are approximately one thousand gangs that pledge an unquestioned allegiance to the La eMe across the United States. Despite their foundations in Los Angeles, the gang’s influence is increasing in other cities also.
Threats to the United States
Any group with too much power and firepower is a potential threat to the United States. The Mexican Mafia presents a unique situation. The gang is powerful and predominantly Hispanic. They are also proud of their origins. Hence, the policies that adversely affect Hispanics will come under the scrutiny of the Mexican Mafia. This makes the Mexican Mafia a ticking time bomb. The police, FBI, DEA, and ATF have scored arrests in the past however; they do not constitute to any breakthroughs. Unlike other gangs that disintegrate when the top leadership and lieutenants end up in jail. The leadership of this gang is operating from jail.
The threat of going to jail is nonexistent to this gang since their leadership is already there. This factor increases the threat to the United States, should any conflict arise between the ranks of the Mexican Mafia and law enforcement agencies in the area. They have connections to hide any number of personnel from any terrorist group given their ability to cover their tracks so well. There is an additional threat of radicalization in prison.
The Mexican Mafia does not profess to follow any particular religious tenets however; should the leadership encounter radical teachings, it is difficult to predict how the La eMe will respond. In recent years, the immigration laws and arrests on the border increased substantially. The public favor for Mexican immigration has not been favorable in recent years too. It is possible that the gang might lash out if any family member of the gang should face such a situation while attempting to cross over. It is evident that it does not take a lot of adversity to set these gangs on a rampage. The new Homeland Security policies might create an opportunity for a viable threat against the United States.
Threats to regional stability
The threat to regional establishment of government and law enforcement is considerable. The police do not venture into gang-riddled neighborhoods already. The FBI studies the gang and can account for a few arrests under the RICO laws. However, curbing the menace and taking over the streets from the Mexican Mafia is a different matter altogether. The La eMe controls distribution of all controlled substances, firearms, and any large-scale illegal operation in California. This kind of power is massive for a prison gang. The balance of the region is already under threat from La eMe. The leadership of the gang is impossible to identify and prosecution will not help.
The members of this gang expect death from the day they sign up for the job. Hence, punishments like death and jail time will prove highly ineffective against them. On the other hand, these are the only two avenues open to law enforcement in the United States. Without the fear of punishment and without the possibility to quit the ranks, there is no balance achievable despite the vast resources of the US Department of Homeland security. The presence of commercial docks in California makes matters worse. For example, a two-day strike or disruption in operations at any dock in the United States will potentially cost two thousand jobs in the private sector along with crippling losses to the economy overall.
Furthermore, the overrunning of the city of Los Angeles will result in the annihilation of the movie industry that has made the city its home. The parallel example is the Auto city of Detroit. The industries moved out along with a large portion of the population. The people eventually declined to cooperate with the police since the risk of taking on the gangs became a definite reality. Neighborhoods in the city of Los Angeles are following a similar pattern. Should Hollywood choose to abandon the city, the economics of the entire region will be in jeopardy (Enriqueza and Valdez, 2011). In addition, it will hurt tourism if people visit the city for the wrong reasons (drugs).
Recommendations to deal with the group
The regular operating procedures for dealing with an organized criminal institution will remain ineffective for the Mexican Mafia. They do not have bosses and their regular members have equal standing within the gang. The gang members seldom have an opportunity to leave the code of the La eMe without deadly consequences. Even members who leave the gang fear for their lives since the La eMe will wait for decades to settle scores; no betrayal is forgotten or forgiven. Intel on the group is sketchy at best. It will be impossible to infiltrate the gang since their procedure for recruitment hinges on killing two or three people in the prison yard (FBI, 1973).
The only way to control this group is to cutoff trade and provisions. The drug trade keeps the La eMe in business. However, to do that the law enforcement agencies will first have to deal with the other street gangs that support the La eMe. The invincibility of the Mexican Mafia finds its roots in the fear of smaller gangs that adhere to the code. These gangs are susceptible to fear of prison and the fear of death. Coincidentally, these are the same factors used by the Mexican Mafia to keep the gangs in-line. The first phase of operations will concentrate on demolishing the smaller gangs that provide the La eMe with drug ‘tax’ and personnel.
The second phase commences when the dismantling of the smaller gangs get underway. The La eMe does not tolerate failure. Hence, the fear of running into the dreaded gang in prison will provide a wide source of informants or witnesses against the gang. This information will prove useful in the third phase which eliminates the supply lines from Mexico and other parts of South America. The fourth phase will involve the cooperation of police forces from other nations in South America to deal with the Mexican drug cartel. If the cartel believes their survival is at stake due to its association with the La eMe, they will have no other choice than to break up the relationship and end the supply of drugs permanently. Without foot soldiers from smaller gangs and any source of income, the invincibility of the Mexican Mafia will dwindle. Subsequently, they will return to their roots as a prison gang that fends off against other prison gangs and become a nuisance for the Department of Corrections. However, their domination of criminal enterprises outside the prison walls will end.
Challenges in emergency response to the Mexican Mafia
The lack of intelligence is the primary concern for the Department of Homeland Security. The ‘no snitching’ code of the La eMe prevents any scope to obtain vital information of any upcoming attack. Despite all the technology, it will prove virtually impossible to eavesdrop on any useful conversations. The secondary concern is the intolerance for failure within the ranks. Hence, the members involved in an attack on the docks or Hollywood will not give up until they die. Hence, the number of attackers is more than five, the casualty rates will be high. These attackers will be as potent as suicide bombers (Kontos and Brotherton, 2008).
The gang members are Hispanic however, there is no guarantee they will not use other unarmed Hispanics as human shields. They have a history of shooting women, children, and infants. The gang will use every despicable trick possible to prolong the attack. There will be no scope for negotiations once they decide to go on a rampage. The regular pattern with street gangs incorporates retreat when two or more members die. The code of the La eMe prevents such actions. The situation will come under control only when all attackers die. There will not be retreats or surrenders when the Mexican Mafia takes on law enforcement agencies in a prolonged gun battle.
Transit coordination is the key to a successful emergency response. Should the La eMe decide to stage an attack on the civilian population in Los Angeles, it will be a challenge to clear the streets due to their allegiance with other street gangs. The Mexican Mafia often conducts swift action operations and almost always with a diversionary attack as a prelude (Fleisher and Decker, 2001). There are chances their attacks will not protract long enough for an emergency response. Predicting the prelude might be possible since the La eMe will require law enforcement to focus on the diversion. The gang may make the Intel for the diversion available to the police or the FBI. Hence, it will be very unlikely for any response team to reach the location of the actual attack while it is still in progress.
Is dialogue possible? What are the advantages and risks?
The code of the Mexican Mafia prohibits snitching. Cooperating with federal officials will portray snitching. In prison when members sustain injuries from fights, they do not report the incident to the prison guards irrespective of the severity. They have a strong belief against rendering any cooperation with anyone outside the gang. They derive their strength from this set of codes. The strict adherence to the code provides them with invincibility (Ibarra, 2014). Hence, they probably will not look to settle for a dialogue without benefits.
There are very few advantages in engaging in a dialogue with the Mexican Mafia. However, it will be of national interest to broker a deal on the safety of the docks. The word of the Mexican Mafia finds obedience on the street. Hence, there are a few aspects of national security achieved with the help of the La eMe. The gang does not affiliate with any known Islamic terrorist organization. If the leadership of the gang instructs the street gangs not to harbor terrorists, the gangs will adhere to it. Although they will not share intelligence on possible terrorist activity in the region, their cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security ensures La eMe’s commitment to avoid terrorist attacks on the United States.
The cost of cooperation will probably involve complete immunity to run drugs and street gang operations throughout the nation. Even if the Department of Homeland Security can provide sanctuary to exclusive members of the La eMe, the immunity will be sufficient for them to indirectly order hits on their adversaries. The lives of law enforcement officers and responsible civilians alike will face imminent danger from the gang. There will be no scope to bring the masterminds of any killing attributed to the Mexican Mafia to justice. The cost will also require the US Government to look the other way on drug distribution. Ultimately, the dialogue will not bring any worthwhile offer to the table since the Mexican Mafia is comfortable in prison and they do not fear a violent death. There is nothing to offer except the lives of American citizens on US soil; through gunfire or drugs. No deal is worth that price.
References
Blatchford, C (2009). The Black Hand: The Story of Rene "Boxer" Enriquez and His Life in the Mexican Mafia. Harper Collins. New York: NY. Pp. 4-11, 62-73, 98-122, 134-165, and 178-214. (Primary Source)
Enriqueza, R., and Mendoza, R (2013). The Mexican Mafia Encyclopedia. Police and Fire Publishing. Santa Ana: CA. Pp. 23-331. (Primary Source)
Enriqueza, R., and Valdez, A. (2011). Urban Street Terrorism. The Mexican Mafia and the Surenos. Police and Fire Publishing LLC. Santa Ana: CA. Pp. 14-163. (Primary Source)
FBI Staff (1973). Mexican Mafia. Retrieved from: https://vault.fbi.gov/Mexican%20Mafia (Primary source)
Fleisher, M. S., and Decker, S. H. (2001). An Overview of the Challenge of Prison Gangs. Corrections Management Quarterly. 5(1). Pp. 1-9. (Scholarly)
Ibarra, A. (2014). Loyalty and Betrayal. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. North Charleston: CA. Pp. 8-29. (Primary Source)
Kontos, L., and brotherton, D. C. (2008). Encyclopedia of Gangs. Greenwood Press. Westport: CT. Pp. 249-259.
Manning, G. A. (2010). Financial Investigation and Forensic Accounting. CRC Press. Boca Raton: FL. Pp. 189-193.
Portland State University Staff (2011). Gangs and Gang Activity in America: A Prevention Report. Retrieved from: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=ccj_capstone (Scholarly)
Sanchez-Jankowski, M. (2003). Gangs and social change. Theoretical Criminology. 7(2). Pp. 191-216. DOI: 1362–4806(200305)7:2. (Scholarly)
