Gangs give some sense of family, belonging

By Darren Meritz and Zahira Torres / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 01/13/2008 12:00:00 AM MST

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After a major crackdown targeting Barrio Azteca, El Pasoans on Saturday were trying to assess the appeal of street gangs and to determine what steps to take to curb their influence.

Robert Beltran, a former gang member who attended a community meeting about gangs Saturday in East El Paso, said his initial interest in joining a gang stemmed from a need for a sense of belonging. He said he decision to walk away was the best one he ever made.

"I actually have a good family," said Beltran, 36. "My dad's a teacher and my mom has a good job as well. My brothers, sisters, we're a tight family. I guess there was a rift between me and my parents and there was no interaction after a certain point, so I was just seeking that love, that interaction with my parents, the acceptance, and I basically found it elsewhere."

That sense of belonging can quickly lead to far deadlier affiliations with groups such as Barrio Azteca, the gang with operatives inside U.S. prisons that law enforcement officials believe created a structure for six El Paso men to allegedly commit crimes including racketeering and murder.