A “revolving door” on the border has kept the gang’s numbers steady —about 10,000 in the U.S. — even as many illegal immigrant members aredeported.
Criminal gangs in the USA have swelled to anestimated 1 million members responsible for up to 80% of crimes incommunities across the nation, according to a gang threat assessmentcompiled by federal officials.
The major findings in a report by the JusticeDepartment’s National Gang Intelligence Center, which has not beenpublicly released, conclude gangs are the “primary retail-leveldistributors of most illicit drugs” and several are “capable” ofcompeting with major U.S.-based Mexican drug-trafficking organizations.
“A rising number of U.S.-based gangs areseemingly intent on developing working relationships” with U.S. andforeign drug-trafficking organizations and other criminal groups to”gain direct access to foreign sources of illicit drugs,” the reportconcludes.
The gang population estimate is up 200,000 since 2005.
Bruce Ferrell, chairman of the Midwest Gang Investigators Association,whose group monitors gang activity in 10 states, says the number ofgang members may be even higher than the report’s estimate.