Studies have found that one of the main reasons undocumented immigrants do not report crimes is because they fear being deported. The data accounted for low crime reports factor in both undocumented and documented immigrants. The fear of reporting crimes has impacted many in the immigrant community, including one mother and her 4-year-old child.
An undocumented mother alleges her 4-year-old was sexually assaulted by a Texas police official.
10-year Bexar County Sheriff Office [San Antonio, TX] Veteran Jose Nunez Arrested, Charged With Felony Sexual Assault Of A 4 Year Old Girl https://t.co/oUrTAGCO2z via @mySA
— Bob Garcia (@1reddragon696) June 18, 2018
The mother claims that her 4-year-old told her about the assault and wanted to report it for an undisclosed amount of time, but the alleged assailant told her that if she ever told anyone, he would deport her.
Police have arrested Jose Nunez, a 47-year-old officer who has worked in the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for the past ten years, specifically as a detention officer. According to NBC News, Nunez has some kind of relationship with the mother and child, but it’s unclear as to the specific relation.
Fox San Antonio News reports that the alleged crimes could have been going on for the past few months, maybe even years. There also may be other victims.
Jose Nunez—a 10 year veteran of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the jail—was arrested on a charge of super aggravated sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl. Nunez allegedly threatened to have the girl’s mother deported after she confronted him. https://t.co/OjdC2LrNop
— The Appeal (@theappeal) June 18, 2018
“The details of the case are quite frankly heartbreaking, disturbing, disgusting and infuriating all at the same time,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a press conference. “This suspect utilized to his advantage to place the mother in fear that she would be deported if she did report it,” and added that the “little girl now is safe.”
Sherriff Salazar said that the mom eventually reported the crimes to officials at a fire station.
HAPPENING NOW: BCSO sheriff says Jose Nunez, a detention deputy was arrested for sexually assaulting a 4 yr old. Victim’s mother who was an undocumented immigrant called for help. Sheriff says Nunez used her status against her to try & prevent her from telling. #KENS5Eyewitness pic.twitter.com/RFA2PmjHEq
— Sharon Ko (@SharonKoTV) June 17, 2018
“I don’t know that he was purposely targeting the undocumented community,” Salazar said, according to NBC News. “Certainly what was appealing was the vulnerability of that community because they are less apt to report things.”
Nunez has been charged with super aggravated sexual assault, which carries a 25-year jail time minimum.
