Mariposas Sin Fronteras

Mariposas Sin Fronteras is the only organization in Tucson, Arizona whose focus is supporting trans and LGBQIJ+ migrants (our “compes”). When ICE tries to limit our compes’ mobility, we facilitate workshops to help them integrate and thrive in Southern Arizona through our Encuentro de Amigues. While the federal government defunds the resources available to our compes, we address the immediate needs of compes who cross the US-Mexico border into Arizona by distributing humanitarian aid.

In the first fifty days of Trump’s presidency, ICE has made over 32,000 arrests. Our compes face increased ICE presence, violent threats of mass deportation, and deportation without a court hearing. Many of our compes are detained in Arizona’s inhumane detention centers, where they are denied food, water, and medical care.

MSF builds power in partnership with TGE migrants through a two-fold approach of providing direct material assistance and facilitating Encuentro de Amigues. Our Encuentro De Amigues (“Friends Gathering”) is a series of monthly holistic wellness and leadership development meetings. Topics include sexual health, boundaries, political education, and community building. These workshops provide a space to heal from the traumas our compes fled from in their home countries and throughout their migration journeys. Joyful connection is a resistant factor that insulates our community through affirmation, healing, and power building. 

Mariposas Sin Fronteras also distributes emergency funds to our compes so that they can afford basic necessities such as food, clothes, medical care, and rent; and travel to safer destinations after crossing the border, and immigration court appointments. We also send monthly commissary funds to our compes trapped in detention centers, where they otherwise have limited access to basic necessities. 

Direct financial aid is crucial to the survival and immediate wellbeing of our compes. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we support the trans and LGBQIJ+ migrants in our community. 

In 2024 we distributed:

$1,350 of commissary funds 

$15,230 of emergency mutual aid

$2,000 to cover the cost of six emergency cross-country flights

$15,000 to post bonds for the release of two compes from detention.

We currently have $24,000 of emergency funds and $12,930 in commissary funds reserved to distribute in 2025. This can support emergency funds for up to 8 compes a month and commissary funds for up to 20 compes a month. However, the need is rising as Trump is detaining more of our community members and at longer/indefinite periods of time.

Therefore, we're fundraising $10,000 by June 30 so we can increase the amount of humanitarian aid we distribute to our TLGBQIJ+ migrant community in Southern Arizona.

An example of how this $10,000 would be spent: 

$1,600 = 1 month of commissary funds for 20 compes in detention

$5,000 = 20 emergency mutual aid VISA cards of $250

$3,400 = about 8 emergency cross-country flights for compes (i.e. once compes are released from detention, compes who need to arrive at their immigration court hearing in another state)

Your financial contribution will go directly to our mutual aid fund for TLGBQIJ+ migrants in Southern Arizona. Donate by June 30 to help us meet our goal, and/or send our fundraiser to your loved ones!