As San Antonio grapples with the debate over whether to sue the state over the newly-signed sanctuary city law, groups that work with domestic violence victims say it is already having a negative impact.
"We have the services available for Spanish-only speakers, but my staff providing those services are not nearly as busy," Marta Pelaez, head of San Antonio's Battered Women's and Children's shelter tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI.
She opposes the legislation, which gives police officers the right to ask someone their immigration status.
It's a bill that's opposed by San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, who has said that the 2400 San Antonio police officers have plenty on their plate, with the city's rising crime rate, and don't need to have the aggravation of new duties for another agency.
"I don't think we're going to see the feds helping us with our calls for service," he said. "I don't think they're going to be jumping into police care assisting, because we're tied up on an immigration matter."
But that message is, apparently, not making its way to migrant communities, because Pelaez says many women have told her that they were afraid to seek safety from an abusing partner. Some, she says, have stayed in an abusive relationship because the beatings were better than being deported.
"Now, the perpetrators are saying, if you call the police, you will be arrested. I'll keep the kids because they were born here," she explains.
Pelaez is urging San Antonio to stand up against the sanctuary city policies, because it's keeping migrant crime victims in the shadows.