During the 1990s, Mexican Mafia "green light" hit lists began including the TRG during the 1990s, and Sureños were soon at war with them.
Like many refugee groups, lack of knowledge about the culture and society of the host nation and limited command of the English language erected a socio-cultural barrier.
Individuals experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and Cambodian-American communities were deeply affected by poverty.
Gang hand-signs, graffiti, and fashion developed, and the TRG began committing extortion, murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, home invasion, and drug and weapons trafficking.
[21] Members of the Tiny Rascals Gang had a violent rivalry with the Long Beach-based East Side Longos, who were predominantly Hispanic, during the early 1990s.
[29] The Tiny Rascals are involved in criminal activities which include extortion, robbery, burglary, auto theft, gang protection, and murder.
They have formed alliances with Chinese organizations such as the 14K, Wah Ching and Wo Hop To in California and the New York City-based Ghost Shadows.
[32][33][34] Groups of non-Cambodian and non-Asian members are in smaller North Carolina towns, particularly Forest Oaks and Pleasant Garden, which have reported car thefts and gunfire by the gang.
[38] TRG members committed a mass shooting in 2019, killing three people and wounding nine; one woman was paralyzed from the chest down.