The Antagonist in Always Running is actually the gang, itself. They call themselves The Animal Tribe, or The Tribe for short. They basically absorb all of the smaller gangs in the area. When Luis wants to leave because he's found a better way to live, they won't let him go. They threaten to kill him. Throughout the entire story it is the gang and their expectations that keep Luis and his brothers from moving on toward becoming productive citizens and good family members.
