As for their presence in Mexico, the associate researcher stated that: He added that Vatos Locos gangs have been detected in metropolitan areas of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Spain and Italy (ibid.). The associate researcher also noted that there is not enough information available to establish an organic relationship between the Vatos Locos in California and its replicas in other parts of the world (ibid.). It appears that the organizational structure of the Vatos Locos that is present in the US does not reflect that in other countries (Associate Researcher 18 June 2012.). Ĭorroborating information on the leaders of the gangs and the person named in the information request could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response 2. Finally, once the tests have been passed, the candidate makes the oath "sangre con sangre para entrar" or "muero por mi clika, me vale madre, es mi father, mi sangre: por ello siempre juro ser vato loco". If motives are considered reasonable, then they proceed with the test of "placazo" which means that the candidate is to take part in a fight to demonstrate his/her arrojo. In order to join the gang, candidates have to demonstrate their "abilities", and it is reported that leaders ask about their motives for wanting to belong to the gang. It can be noted that in Ecuador gang membership is a form of cultural identification which eventually turns into violence.Ī general behavioural pattern in the ramifications noted above is the existence of hierarchies with their own identity symbols and recruitment methods. While in Central America Vatos Locos have a strong logic of violent and armed defense of their neighborhoods, in Chile or Argentina, these characteristics are diluted, even though they are present as well.
![blood in blood out vatos locos blood in blood out vatos locos](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p3pLiMmLN-s/hqdefault.jpg)
Outside the US, structures of internal organization reflect the multiplicity of settlements and the weight it has on local practices. Members of these assemblies are considered as "Captains" that rule over "Soldiers," who are the ones that do the work in the streets Available information suggests that in the US there are leaderships constituted in the form of assemblies where "collective" decisions are taken in a relatively democratic way. If the hypothesis of a "nation" of "Vatos Locos" is accepted, it is not hard to understand that its internal organization is quite heterogeneous. The associate researcher also indicated the following with regard to the internal organization and recruitment of Vatos Locos: There have been reports of third or fourth generation gang members belonging to the same gang. Members of Vatos Locos refer to themselves as a "nation" that shares common aspects but still allows each individual gang a certain degree of autonomy. Some gangs outside the US probably took the Vatos Locos name from the 1993 film Blood In, Blood Out. Recent recruits include ex-military personnel returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. During the 1970s and 1980s the gang was partly consolidated in prison, extending its alliances and mode of recruitment.
![blood in blood out vatos locos blood in blood out vatos locos](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjUyZTk1YjQtMjgzOC00ZjVjLWFmODktMzEwZThlNzBhYzZmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg)
Based on his database consisting of around 3,500 archives on gangs in the Americas, the associate researcher indicated that the gang Vatos Locos was created during the 1940s in Los Angeles by Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
![blood in blood out vatos locos blood in blood out vatos locos](https://i.etsystatic.com/25523850/r/il/c67f0a/2674031933/il_340x270.2674031933_tfsm.jpg)
The information presented in this section is coming from a correspondence sent the Research Directorate on the 18 June 2012 by an associate researcher at the Chihuahua College (Colegio de Chihuahua), also member of the UNESCO Chair on drugs in Mexico. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Mexique : information sur le gang Vatos Locos, y compris sa structure organisationnelle, ses zones d'influence et ses activités information sur des arrestations de membres du gang en 2007Ĭanada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: The Vatos Locos gang, including its organizational structure, areas of influence and activity information on detention of gang members in 2007, 13 July 2012, MEX104133.FE, available at: Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada