Illegal Immigration Attracts New Gangs to the ValleyAug 7, 2013 7:39 PM


WESLACO - Police say gangs from out of the Rio Grande Valley are setting up operations here to cash in on the lucrative smuggling trade.

Law enforcement experts said human smuggling is one of the most attractive fields for the new gangs.

"They used to go through Phoenix and California. Now they're going through Hidalgo County. Why are they coming here? The whole purpose is because they want to cash in on the criminal activity and the profits that a lot of the criminal element is making here," San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzalez said.

"The influx of human smuggling ... they're coming down for that, because they know it's a hot bed of criminal activity here," Gonzalez said.

"They know that the criminal element is here. Some of them have different portfolios ... drugs, guns, trafficking," he said.

Harlingen resident Art Palencia said he hopes that criminal element will not creep into Cameron County.

"We just try to keep it safe and look out for the neighbors," Palencia said.
Palencia said he doesn't have any gang problems in his neighborhood.

San Juan police set up a special unit to identify gangs. They also are going after human stash houses.

Gonzalez said his department aids federal agencies by providing them information.

"We may not be able to arrest them, but we can get intelligence from them ... where they're from. If they're coming to this area, they're operating all over the United States. Our main goal is to share that intelligence out there," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said his department has identified gangs from San Antonio, Dallas and Houston trying to set up operations in the Valley.

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