SAN ANTONIO – A man who pointed a gun at migrants in El Paso and threatened them outside a church and a bus station was ordered by a state judge to pay damages for his harmful actions on Monday.
MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) filed the civil rights lawsuit in 2024 in Texas state court on behalf of the three men who were threatened on New Year’s Eve 2022 and New Year’s Day 2023. The suit alleged that the defendant, Steven Matthew Driscoll, committed civil assault and intentionally inflicted emotional distress by knowingly or recklessly threatening the men with bodily injury by pointing a handgun at them. On February 23, 2026, the 448th District Court of El Paso County entered a default judgment against the defendant after he failed to answer the lawsuit, ordering him to pay damages and post-judgment interest and authorizing all necessary writs and processes to enforce collection. The court held him liable and awarded each of the three plaintiffs compensation for medical expenses, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
“No matter the irresponsible rhetoric of this administration, all persons have the right to be free from violent threats and assault,” said Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel. “The law will hold accountable all who violate this right.”
On Dec. 31, 2022, Steven Driscoll drove to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in El Paso, where migrants had sought refuge after entering the United States. He waved to one of the men to approach his truck. The man, represented by MALDEF in the case, approached the vehicle thinking Driscoll was dropping off a donation. Instead, Driscoll began angrily cursing in English and pointed a handgun at the man’s face. A humanitarian aid volunteer stepped between the man and Driscoll, who was still pointing the gun. Driscoll told the volunteer, “I am the eyes for America, and I’m here to see,” before leaving in his vehicle.
Driscoll then drove to the nearby Greyhound bus station, where recent migrants – including families with children – had taken refuge and gathered at warming stations. Two of the plaintiffs represented by MALDEF were among the migrants at the warming station. At approximately 12:45 a.m. on January 1, 2023, Driscoll parked near the bus station, got out of his truck, and pulled out his gun. One plaintiff began to yell to warn others that Driscoll was armed. Another plaintiff in the case was standing in an area near Driscoll and a bus filled with women and children. As Driscoll walked toward the bus, he pointed his gun at the two plaintiffs. As migrants ran from the scene, some pleaded with him not to shoot, saying in Spanish, “We haven’t done anything to you.”
Driscoll was subsequently convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and served a prison sentence through January 3, 2025.
“The court’s ruling, ordering Driscoll to pay a substantial sum to his victims, sends a clear message that vigilantes will pay for their crimes,” said Nina Perales, MALDEF vice president of litigation.
MALDEF expanded its work in 2021 to confront rising open hostility and intolerance directed at Latino communities through its “Freedom from Open and Obvious Bias and Racism” program.