ICE activity in the country and state has caused a change in the numbers of sexual assault and child abuse cases reported says La Piñon Executive Director. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez recently visited La Piñon, a sexual assault recovery service, to speak about the issue.
The number of cases being reported in places such as Sunland Park, Anthony, and anywhere near a checkpoint has decreased, says La Piñon Executive Director, Angelica Calderon. This can be because people are afraid of signing documents if they are of a mixed status family or have uncertain or no status but are not sure of the specific reason, she said.
“I do not have specific numbers again; I want to protect the privacy of our clients, but there has been a decline in our adult cases, so, 18 and above in our southern communities,” Calderon said. “We don’t think that the numbers have declined because violence has stopped; that would be our hope.”
Right now, La Piñon services are in law enforcement offices in Anthony and Sunland Park, said Calderon…