Translated, Mexikanemi means "Free-Mexican." This
prison gang formed in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 1984 and is also known as the Mexican Mafia.
Known as the Texas Mexican Mafia, the gang is not recognized by California, Federal, and old Arizona Eme members. As with the new Arizona Eme, the Texas Mexican Mafia was created without organizational sanction. The name of the Texas faction is “Mexikanemi.” It utilizes an abbreviated form of this name “Emi.” It also differs in its political structure. But the most obvious dissimilarity is the symbol worn by Emi members. The Mexicanemi does not use “the black hand of death” tattoo as do the other three unified factions; rather, their symbol is known simply as “the patch.” The patch is a symbol of machetes within a circle.
Based on race, ethnicity and domicile, the
Mexikanemi prison gang generally excludes non-Hispanics and
inmates from outside of Texas. After forming, the group rapidly grew to become the largest gang in the Texas system (numbers reported only as "Mexican Mafia") and became known for criminal activity to include extortion, drugs and murder. They state that they will conduct any criminal activity that will benefit their advancement including contract assassinations.
The Mexikanemi is antagonistic towards the New Mexican
Mafia, Black Guerrilla Family, other Black gangs and the Texas
Syndicate.
The Mexikanemi has a constitution and is structured along paramilitary lines with a President, Vice-President, General, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Soldiers.
A Mexikanemi member must be prepared to give up his life or to take the life of someone else at any time.