SAN DIEGO — San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott and the Consul General of Mexico Alicia G Kerber-Palma signed an agreement Wednesday afternoon to help more domestic violence survivors.
The new Memorandum of Understanding aims to ensure services to Mexican nationals in San Diego who are experiencing domestic violence can continuously be provided for families.
San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said this could help even more survivors.
"Here victims of domestic violence and human trafficking can get their lives back on track with everything that they need from shelter to counseling to clothing and legal advice," Elliott announced.
The MOU solidifies the alliance between the City of San Diego and the Mexican Consulate saying Mexican nationals in San Diego can get help here.
"All too often we have seen traffickers bring women across the border for profit. We see women threatened with deportation or the destruction of their passports because that is how traffickers and abusers keep power over their victims,” Elliott explained.
In 2022, San Diego Police reported more than 4,835 cases of domestic violence including crimes where guns or knives are used. In 2023, there were more than 4,685 cases reported, indicating a 3% decrease.
However, Elliott says not every crime is reported and the numbers for domestic violence cases are high across the country and globe.
"It can happen in Mexico, San Diego and any other place in the world and it does happen with heart stopping frequency," Elliott added.
The National Institutes of Health report in a global study that 1 in 4 women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetimes.
Kerber-Palma says she’s seeing to it that Mexico increases protection for women and other survivors.
"Numbers can show you the need for having this type of alliance between Your Safe Place and the Consulate General of Mexico," Kerber-Palma announced.
Kerber Palma also says help, like resources here in San Diego can go a long way to keep more families safe.
"Mexico has created the program where we provide women migrants from Mexico with legal services, shelter places, psychological assistance, medical assistance and multiplying the resources can give us a chance to multiply the results. Especially those that are migrant because they don't understand the administrative procedures, the legal procedures, sometimes they don't speak the language of the country and for their own safety, they don't want to report because they believe they will be separated from their child,” Kerber-Palma concluded.
For more information about Your Safe Place, click here or call 619-533-6000. In an emergency, please call 911.