Mafia membership rights were strictly territorial and non-portable across borders.

Evidence

Violi responds: “No … it’s different. If he lives here with us and we acknowledge him here, when the moment [of initiation] comes, everything will be all right.” … Cuffaro speaks again: “Pardon me, but does that mean that if I go to America, I can’t visit a friend?” … “You can, but you cannot speak about things that concern your family.” — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 302

Categorization

• XREF: Territoriality of membership rights and the taboo on discussing family affairs outside the territory parallels Gambetta’s account of how the protection ‘brand’ is locally bounded and non-transferable.