Origin

The Nuestra Familia (La ENE) originated in the mid 1960s at Soledad Prison in California. It was formed to protect rural Hispanic inmates from other inmates, specifically the Mexican Mafia, which was predominately composed of urban Hispanics. The cultural and social differences between urban and rural Hispanics caused this division between the Nuestra Familia and Mexican Mafia. The Nuestra Familia’s struggle to gain power evolved into participation in criminal activities, mainly the smuggling of contraband into correctional facilities.

Identifiers

Members of the Nuestra Familia exhibit various symbols to denote their allegiance to Northern California. Their tattoos usually display the letters NF, LNF, ENE, F, and a sombrero with a machete dripping blood through it. See the gallery for examples of tattoos worn by the Nuestra Familia.

GALLERY