Portland’s catch-and-deport policy was an important reason why. The policy was designed for the small-time street addict/dealer who city officials didn’t want taking jail space from more serious felons. The Xalisco Boys’ drivers worked hard to look small-time. In reality, they were the only visible strands of large webs that sold hundreds of kilos of black tar a year across America, by the tenth of a gram. So for many years, when they were caught they were deported and faced little jail time, and no prison time. As farm boys on the make, they drew a very different message from leniency than
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