Victim Services – Immigration, El Paso, Texas

This initiative has been identified as a good immigrant integration practice by the NLC. Click here to find all about the other programs!

Situated on the border with Mexico, El Paso has a population of 593,496 with a foreign-born population comprising more than 26% of the total population.

Immigrants too often become victims of domestic abuse. Many of their batterers use immigration status as a way to control them, making them feel powerless to seek help or protection. The abuser may exploit the immigrant in many ways, such as destroying or stealing his or her papers, calling him or her names such as “illegal,” threatening to have the person deported or reporting his or her immigration status.

The City of El Paso’s Police Department is aware of these concerns and in response established a Victim Services Unit to work with immigrants to make sure that they are aware of their rights. Victims have the right to protection from harm and threats and have the right to privacy. Most importantly, as victims of crimes, immigrants are not required to report their immigration status to police. A female immigrant who goes to a battered women’s shelter has the right to keep her immigration status private. Likewise, El Paso residents are not required to be citizens in order to get a restraining order and are entitled to receive emergency medical care.

The El Paso Police Department remains dedicated to making sure that every resident — including immigrants — is aware of these rights and will not hesitate to seek help and legal support. The Victim Services Unit provides assistance to all victims through awareness, education, information, and resources with the respect and dignity victims deserve. Although the police department understands that deportation is a possible outcome for immigrant victims, safety for these victims is considered paramount.

For more information about Immigrant Victim Services, please contact the El Paso Police Department Victim Services Unit at (915) 564-7368 or pdpios@elpasotexas.gov.