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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Police say girl gangs growing in Portland area [Latinas] Police say girl gangs growing in Portland area 07:00 AM PST on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 MILWAUKIE, Ore. -- Once considered property of male gang members, girls are now starting to establish their own turf. Police and others who work with teenagers estimate that at least three separate Latina gangs operate in the Portland area. "There's been a transition," said Officer Russ Corno of the Portland Police Bureau's Gang Enforcement Team. "A few years ago, the female gang members were viewed as property of the male gang members. For them to branch out and form their own gangs under their own names is really something that we're only seeing in the last two years." Corno said most Latina gang members are in their early to mid-teens and their activities generally involve graffiti and intimidation. He is concerned that their crimes will escalate in seriousness as the girls age. Many of the gangs in the Portland area grew out of California, and some of their members in the Portland area moved from there, said John Sena said, a member of the Clackamas County Youth Gang Task Force. "It's unlike anything in local history," he said. "We're having almost as many referrals for females as we are for males." Rebecca, a Milwaukie-area teenager who declined to give her last name, told The Oregonian that she joined the Latin Babes for protection after getting involved in several fights. She said Latin Babes has about 35 members in Milwaukie, who range in age from 13 to 18. "We tag," she said, using a slang term for graffiti. "If we see girls we don't like, we'll jump them and take their stuff. We get into trouble. Basically, all we do is go party." Sena said he regularly calls Rebecca just to check in, hoping to keep her out of trouble. He said it's tough to get young people to leave gangs, "but there is hope. We don't give up on them." Gresham police Officer Scott Hogan, who works in gang enforcement, said Latina gangs in Gresham have at least 40 members who have a history of assault, criminal mischief, curfew violations, and alcohol and drug violations. In Canby, police have noticed Latina gang members socializing in town and say they're watching for signs of criminal activity. "They're not as active as the guys," Sgt. Jorge Tro said. "What I'm afraid of is that it could grow."
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