Anti-Semitic reports rise in Texas, but El Paso sees no reported incidents
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Anti-Defamation League's recent audit found anti-Semitic incidents are up nationwide by 36 percent from 2021 to 2022.
The report was released days ahead of the Holocaust Days of Remembrance.
Texas is one of the top five states with the most reported cases of antisemitism.
That data prompted ABC-7 to ask the El Paso FBI office if that is being reflected locally.
"El Paso has been very low in numbers compared to the rest of the state," said FBI El Paso spokeswoman Jeanette Harper. "We do have some reports (of hate crime), but ... it's really not a lot."
In 2021, there were five incidents of hate crime reported to both the El Paso County Sheriff and the police department.
None of the incidents were targeting the Jewish community.
Harper said anti-Semitic incidents has been reported to El Paso authorities in the past, but they're not common and, more likely, not reported at all.
"I think it's more of a lack of reporting in the El Paso area," Harper said. "Some individuals feel that they may not trust law enforcement. ... But just rest assured that the FBI look(s) at everything. We look at all the facts. We will treat everything with utmost priority if there is a report to us."
The FBI turns over the results of the investigation to the U.S. Department of Justice, which decides whether to prosecute.
If you witness a hate crime, or are a victim, the FBI urges you to report it.
You can file reports at tips.FBI.gov, or by calling the local FBI office at 915-832-5000. You can report anonymously at 800-Call-FBI.
