Law enforcement targets illegal alien gang members

* February 17th, 2011 2:00 pm ET


The Santa Maria Police Department Gang Suppression Team and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a sweep targeting illegal alien gang members this month, resulting in several arrests.

The multi-day operation saw police officers going to the homes of known gang members believed to be in the country illegally, which resulted in the arrest of 12 illegal aliens.

The following suspects were taken into custody: Juvileo Marquez Gonzaga, 33, Ezequiel Santos Mora, 23, Alejandrino Camarillo, 21, Rafael Esquera Ruiz, 19, Carlos Mendez, 28, Cresencio Espinoza Ramirez, 23, Fredy Alonso Vicente, 18, Yohana Beas-Uribe, 19, Luis Solis, 20, Mauricio Diaz Avalos, age unknown, Eduardo Garcia Ramirez, age unknown, and Antonio Cruz Santos, age unknown.

The town of Santa Maria, like many communities in California, has been inundated with illegal aliens and is now experiencing a surge in gang violence.

In September 2010, a Santa Maria jury convicted two gang members of first-degree murder and other charges in the killing of a rival gang member in 2008.

Isaac Garza, 24, and Carlos Valdez, 20, were found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted robbery in the killing of Jorge Zirate, 18, of Santa Maria.

Garza and Valdez are both members of the Northwest gang, while their victim was a member of the rival West Park gang.

Both received life sentences.

While Los Angeles may be ground zero for gangs such as MS-13, cities large and small are being victimized as well.

A look at one relatively small city reveals the severity of the problem.

According to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the city of Porterville located in central California has a population of 51,467. While reporting a rather modest population, Porterville police report the existence of no less than 23 active gangs in the city.

The known gangs in Porterville, CA are as follows:

-Brown Pride Surenos

-Barrio Sur Trece

-Court Street Locos

-Mexican Gang Bangers

-North Side Varrio Boys

-Tierras-Terra Bella

-Tiny Maltido Surenos

-Varrio Central Poros

-Wicked Ass Surenos

-Young Mexican Gang Bangers

-Barrio “Hâ€