The Nuestra Familia is a coalition of Norteño gangs on the west coast. The organization was originally formed to combat Sureño gang members in the Southern San Andrean penal system who had ties to the Mexican Mafia or La Eme. Mexicans hailing from northern farming communities were seen as a lower class of people by the southern califas. This conflict lead to the formation of the Nuestra Familia which now acts as an umbrella for gangs who pledge their allegiance to "norte connection" such as the Northern Structure, Nuestra Raza, and a plethora of Norteño street gangs based predominately in the Bay Area. The Nuestra Familia influences much of the criminal activity of hundreds of Norteño gangs in northern San Andreas. Those who are affiliated with the Nuestra Familia learn the paramilitary-style ranking structure and constitution largely based off of Cesar Chavez in his campaign and fight for northern Mexican farmers in the 1960's.
Within the San Andrean penal system Norteño's are usual allies of black prison gangs (or cars) such as 415 Kumi or the Black Guerilla Family. There is a deep history between Sureño's and Peckerwoods in San Andrean corrections which results in Norteño's usually backing whatever black prison gang is in control at that moment. Prison gangs such as the Nazi Low Riders, Peckerwood Nation, Public Enemy Number 1, and The Aryan Brotherhood are common allies of Sureño's which result in them becoming a common enemy of the Nuestra Familia. Norteño's control a percentage of drugs and contraband in most level three and four prison yards and are known to deal with blacks and Asians. Most leaders of the Nuestra Familia are currently locked up in Segregative Housing Units in level four prisons, some do still remain at large on the streets and on the mainline.
It is not uncommon for members of the Nuestra Familia to do business with gangs like Public Enemy Number 1 and the Nazi Low Riders outside of prison. Main exports include assault weapons, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, and prescription pills. Although the Familia's work is predominately based out of Northern San Andreas it is indeed a state-wide organization that is responsible for a healthy percentage of the new influx of guns and drugs that have hit the state of San Andreas in recent years. The Nuestra Familia is known for it's tactics to indoctrinate young, impressionable Mexican-Americans into joining the Nuestra Familia from smaller and weaker Norteño gang sets. The gang is predomiantly chicano but has accepted a wide range of Hispanics, Blacks, and even Whites in the past.
