The Barrio Azteca are a Mexican-American prison gang that originated in El Paso, Texas in the late 1980s. They have a reputation for being particularly violent and are involved in a range of criminal activities on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
Origins and History
The Barrio Azteca formed in 1986 in the El Paso County Jail in Texas. The gang was started by inmates from El Paso who wanted to protect each other and preserve their cultural identity in the face of established prison gangs like the Texas Syndicate.
Most of the founding members were from the Second Ward and Eastside neighborhoods of El Paso, which were predominantly Mexican-American areas. The gang took on the name Barrio Azteca to reflect their pride in their ethnic heritage – “Barrio” means neighborhood in Spanish and “Azteca” refers to the Aztec civilization of Mexico.
Over time, the Barrio Azteca grew from protecting members in prison to controlling illegal activities inside and outside prisons. They became involved in crimes like drug trafficking, extortion, murder and money laundering.
The gang expanded across Texas prisons in the 1990s. Their rivalry with the Texas Syndicate sometimes erupted into violence and riots. The Barrio Azteca established their cliques on the basis of geography – inmates from El Paso formed one clique, while Dallas members formed another.
After 2000, the Barrio Azteca spread outside of the Texas prison systems. They migrated into New Mexico and Arizona prisons as members were released or transferred. Their influence also grew in Mexican prisons near the US border as members were deported. On the streets, they forged connections with drug cartels like the Juarez cartel.
The Barrio Azteca have grown into a significant gang presence in the El Paso area and across southwest US. However, the gang’s rapid expansion has also caused some infighting and splits. Some members in Mexico and New Mexico have tried to break off into independent factions.
Criminal Activities
The Barrio Azteca are involved in a range of serious criminal enterprises:
- Drug trafficking – The gang smuggles drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine across the US-Mexico border. Their connections to Mexican cartels allow them to obtain large drug shipments.
- Extortion and intimidation – Barrio Azteca members extort “taxes” or protection money from other criminals and civilians through violent intimidation.
- Murder and assault – They carry out hits, kidnappings, torture, shootings and armed robberies. Rivals and debtors are often targeted.
- Money laundering – They run schemes to hide the origins of money obtained through crime and channel it back into the legitimate economy.
- Human trafficking – Barrio Azteca help move undocumented migrants over the border and exploit them afterward.
- Arms trafficking – The gang smuggles firearms from the US into Mexico to arm itself and allied cartels.
Within prisons, the Barrio Azteca are involved in trafficking contraband like drugs, phones and weapons. Members on the outside often help coordinate these smuggling operations. The gang’s connections across different prisons allow them to function as an organized criminal network.
Allies and Rivals
The Barrio Azteca have complex relationships with other major gangs and drug cartels:
Allies
- Juarez Cartel – They support this Mexican cartel’s smuggling and distribution operations on both sides of the border.
- MS-13 – Barrio Azteca have agreements with the MS-13 gang for access to criminal activities.
- Mexican Mafia – In some prisons, they cooperate and share resources with La Eme, the Mexican Mafia.
Rivals
- Texas Syndicate – As the oldest Mexican-American prison gang in Texas, the Texas Syndicate are their biggest rivals.
- Partido Revolucionario Mexicano – This Mexican prison gang fights with Barrio Azteca in both US and Mexico prisons.
- Sinaloa Cartel – In Mexico, they fight against the Sinaloa cartel over border trafficking turf.
The web of alliances and rivalries means outbreaks of violence between the Barrio Azteca and other gangs are common. Members are expected to use any means necessary to enforce the authority of their clique.
Member Profile and Recruitment
Most Barrio Azteca members are Mexican-American males. However, their recruitment inside prisons means members come from diverse backgrounds:
- Age – Members range from teenagers tried as adults to older hardened criminals.
- Gender – While mostly male, there are some female Barrio Azteca associates and members.
- Race/ethnicity – In addition to Mexican-Americans, other Hispanics and even white and black inmates join.
- Citizenship – Members include US citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented immigrants.
New members are carefully selected and groomed. The recruitment process may involve:
- A probationary period where recruits do “errands” to prove their loyalty.
- A background check into any existing gang affiliations or rivalries.
- A violent initiation rite like being beaten by other members.
- Traditions like giving recruits a new nickname or tattoo.
Members who try to leave the gang face violence or death. Barrio Azteca also actively recruit teenagers on the outside through peers and relatives.
Organization and Structure
The Barrio Azteca have a hierarchical structure with clear leaders and rules. This organization helps them coordinate criminal activities in prisons and on the streets:
Prison organization
- Each prison unit has a designated leader called a “first word”.
- Informal councils help the first word oversee units and resolve disputes.
- Members pay taxes into a communal fund and follow a code of conduct.
- Units have ranked roles like lieutenant, sergeant-at-arms, recruiter, enforcer, etc.
Outside organization
- Cliques are based around specific cities or regions.
- A “jefe” or boss heads each clique supported by senior members.
- Cliques act independently but cooperate on some enterprises.
- Older prisoners often control outside cliques after release.
This structure means members always know their place. They must follow orders from above unquestioningly. Rules, taxes and roles reinforce group loyalty and norms.
Culture and Lifestyle
The Barrio Azteca culture revolves around pride in their Mexican roots and fierce loyalty. Some details on their lifestyle:
- Tattoos – Members often have elaborate Aztec-themed or Spanish tattoos as symbols of ethnicity.
- Language – They speak a mixture of English and Spanish known as Spanglish.
- Meetings – On the outside, cliques gather for meetings and celebrations.
- Signs – They use hand signs, graffiti and clothing to mark their territory.
- Violence – Acts of aggression elevate status and prove oneself to the gang.
Joining the gang becomes a replacement for real family. Members adopt a life of crime and incarceration as inevitable. The gang identity consumes them and makes leaving extremely hard.
In Popular Culture
The Barrio Azteca have appeared in songs, films and shows about gang culture:
- Television – The crime drama The Bridge featured Barrio Azteca characters.
- Music – Rappers like SPM and Z-Ro reference the Barrio Azteca in songs.
- Books – Charles Bowden’s nonfiction book Down by the River details the gang’s criminal history.
- Film – The documentary Barrio Azteca: Prison Gang profiles their origins and prison influence.
However, most mainstream portrayals lack nuance and depict the Barrio Azteca only as one-dimensional villains and criminals. In reality, the factors behind gang formation like poverty, marginalization and the US prison system deserve greater analysis.
Law Enforcement Response
Various law enforcement agencies target the Barrio Azteca:
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice – They identify and segregate members in Texas prisons.
- El Paso Police – Local police combat their street-level crimes in US border regions.
- FBI – Federal agencies address their role in cross-border organized crime.
- ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement often initiates deportations of foreign national gang members.
However, the Barrio Azteca’s deep reach into prisons makes them difficult to dismantle. Law enforcement successes are usually temporary. Removing leadership just allows new bosses to rise up. Tracking their cross-border activities is also a major challenge.
Some argue a better solution is addressing root factors like poverty, lack of education, and poor rehabilitation for imprisoned youth. Tackling these systemic issues could prevent at-risk individuals from joining in the first place.
Conclusion
The Barrio Azteca emerged in Texas prisons but have since expanded into a significant transnational criminal organization. Their ethnic solidarity, violent reputation and drug connections make them a powerful player in the US southwest underworld. However, law enforcement has found their highly structured gang culture hard to dismantle despite focused efforts. With strong loyalty binding members for life, the Barrio Azteca will likely remain an active and dangerous presence for the foreseeable future.