Gangs along the U.S.-Mexico Border: The Tainted Miracle of a Paradox

• In Event: Structural Inequalities and Gangs

Abstract

Data available suggests the U.S.-Mexico Border Region has lower levels of violence and property crime than other regions of the country despite being one of the poorest areas of the country. At the same time, public officials describe this area as having one of the highest levels of gang membership and involvement in drug trafficking. Marginalization and various risk factors make this geographical context of proximal concern. In this study, I conducted 80 interviews with former gang members, associates, and juvenile justice and criminal justice personnel to understand the factors that make gangs and gang membership different along the U.S.-Mexico Border region. This ethnographic project occurred from 2007 to 2014. The findings point to contradictions between the gang literature, public official viewpoints, and serious levels of neglect that keep the border region as one of the most marginalized geographical areas the country.

Author

• Robert J. Duran, University of Tennessee