Abre Camino

Abre Camino

Danielle Villasana

Abre Camino



From my project “Abre Camino,” which explores how transgender women in Latin America often see migration as their only escape from the deadliest place for their community: the region leads the world in trans homicides at 70% and most trans women here don’t live past 35 years old. While many women’s goal is to seek asylum in the U.S., they often find that heightened levels of transphobia and xenophobia complicate their hopes for safety and opportunity in a country imagined as a safe-haven. “Abre Camino” explores these push and pull factors through the stories of women in Central America across their journeys from their home countries through Mexico to the U.S.

Creator: Danielle Villasana

Area: Houston / Downtown

Contributor: Danielle Villasana

Source: Danielle Villasana

Uploaded by: Justin Patera

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

Abre Camino

Abre Camino

Danielle Villasana

Abre Camino



From my project “Abre Camino,” which explores how transgender women in Latin America often see migration as their only escape from the deadliest place for their community: the region leads the world in trans homicides at 70% and most trans women here don’t live past 35 years old. While many women’s goal is to seek asylum in the U.S., they often find that heightened levels of transphobia and xenophobia complicate their hopes for safety and opportunity in a country imagined as a safe-haven. “Abre Camino” explores these push and pull factors through the stories of women in Central America across their journeys from their home countries through Mexico to the U.S.

Creator: Danielle Villasana

Area: Houston / Downtown

Contributor: Danielle Villasana

Source: Danielle Villasana

Uploaded by: Justin Patera

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

Lo hice para ella

Lo hice para ella

Danielle Villasana

Lo hice para ella



From my project “Lo hice para ella,” which focuses on migrant mothers who make grueling journeys north towards the U.S. while pregnant and/or traveling with children. Though facing great risks along the way, such as kidnapping, sexual assault, and mistreatment by authorities, these women often have no choice due to gang threats, domestic abuse, and dire economic situations in their home countries.

Creator: Danielle Villasana

Area: Houston / Downtown

Contributor: Danielle Villasana

Source: Danielle Villasana

Uploaded by: Justin Patera

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

Lo hice para ella

Lo hice para ella

Danielle Villasana

Lo hice para ella



From my project “Lo hice para ella,” which focuses on migrant mothers who make grueling journeys north towards the U.S. while pregnant and/or traveling with children. Though facing great risks along the way, such as kidnapping, sexual assault, and mistreatment by authorities, these women often have no choice due to gang threats, domestic abuse, and dire economic situations in their home countries.

Creator: Danielle Villasana

Area: Houston / Downtown

Contributor: Danielle Villasana

Source: Danielle Villasana

Uploaded by: Justin Patera

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

Halo's story

Halo's story

Danielle Villasana

Lo hice para ella



From my project “Halo’s Story,” which highlights how Samantha Casiano was forced to carry her daughter to term under Texas’ anti-abortion law despite knowing Halo had no chance at survival due to anencephaly, a fatal birth defect causing abnormal development of the baby’s brain and skull. Within minutes of being born, Halo died. “I feel like I should have been able to release her into heaven sooner rather than later, and I wasn't given that right,” said Casiano.

Creator: Danielle Villasana

Area: Houston / Downtown

Contributor: Danielle Villasana

Source: Danielle Villasana

Uploaded by: Justin Patera

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies