New Text-to-Report service makes reporting anti-immigrant hate crimes easier

If you or anyone you know has experienced anti-immigrant hate crimes and incidents involving violence, harassment or intimidation targeted because of their actual or perceived immigrant, non-citizen or ethnic status, there is now a faster and easier way to report it. 

Last week, LA vs Hate, a Los Angeles County initiative that provides free, confidential, multilingual support and services to hate crime victims, launched its Text-to-Report initiative, where residents can report any hate incidents by texting “HATE” to 52-211 to file a report. 

With increasing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and raids, there has also been a sharp rise in anti-immigrant, anti-Latino rhetoric that manifests in street harassment, workplace abuse and targeted vandalism. 

Earlier this year, Arabelia Martinez, a 62-year-old street vendor, was violently assaulted while working at her hot dog cart near Figueroa and 7th Streets in downtown Los Angeles. 

As reported by CALÓ News,  a video that circulated online showed a woman, later identified as 19-year-old Harmunie Heaven Church, yelling at Martinez, telling her she needed a street vending permit and that she needed to  “go back to Mexico,” as well as other racist comments. 

According to Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Martinez was thrown to the ground, punched and dragged before being assisted by bystanders. 

The county's latest Hate Crime Report recorded 1,355 hate crimes in 2024—the second-highest total in the report's 44-year history. Despite the high number, immigrant rights advocates believe many immigrant victims do not report hate crimes to police or any other agency because they fear immigration checks, deportation or negative interactions with authorities. 

Even the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program does not explicitly track “immigrant status” as a standalone bias category. This is what makes comprehensive data on hate crime difficult to capture in its entirety. 

According to UnidosUS's latest report, despite the FBI releasing its 2025 hate crimes statistics and showing a decrease in the overall number of reported hate crimes, that is not synonymous with safety. 

“Among the cities that did report hate crimes, we know that many additional crimes and incidents may yet be unreported because the police who responded did not classify them as hate crimes or chose not to share accurate data with the FBI,” UnidosUS stated. 

With this launch, county officials, community leaders and activists look to encourage residents to reach out for support after witnessing or experiencing hate.

As part of the county’s program, residents will be able to text ‘HATE’ in 15 different languages. The text will not only help them report the incident anonymously, but it will also connect them with a trained, trauma-informed care coordinator for support and referrals.

This text option is available for anyone who has experienced any other bias-motivated hate crime, targeting Blacks, Latinos/as, LGBTQ community members, Jews, Muslims, women or those with disabilities, among others. 

LA vs Hate’s partners, including CHIRLA, LA LGBT Center, ADL, TransLatina Coalition, Western Justice Center and 211LA, have openly talked about the need to raise awareness of the rights and support people have when it comes to combating hate crimes, despite their immigration status. 

“Hate and discrimination can have a profound impact on individuals, families and our community,” said Tim Ryder, president of San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center. “It's essential that people know they are not alone and support is available when they experience or witness hate.” 

The new Text-to-Report initiative will also be displayed in partnership with L.A. Metro on prominent bus shelters. 

Robin Toma, executive director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, said it is more important than ever to strengthen inclusion, build solidarity, spark cross-cultural dialogue and bridge communities around the hopes, struggles and history they share.

LA vs Hate stated on their website that victims should not suffer in silence.

“It is critical to report a hate incident, which includes any act of verbal or physical aggression, refusal of service, bullying, or intimidation of any kind that is motivated by hostile prejudice,” states the organization on its website. “We cannot do anything to stop hate crimes and incidents unless we know about them.

For more information and to report acts of hate and discrimination, visit LAvsHate.org or call 2-1-1 or text 52-211.