Trans Chicas of Cibola Bond Fund

Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, NM is home to one of ICE's  designated detention units for trans women seeking asylum in the United States--one of only two of these specialized units in the entire country. Santa Fe Dreamers Project is an organization of lawyers and advocates who represent trans refugees across the Southwest, first to help them get released from prison or, second to win their bona fide asylum claims if they must remain detained.  Along with our partners, we have helped over 150 women get released from prison in the past year in spite of the Trump administrations increasing attacks on the rights of immigrants, refugees, and the LGBTQ community. 

Here are some recent articles about trans women we have worked with or represented in detention: 

From the Daily Beast about conditions for Trans women in prison 
From the Hill- about the death of Roxsana Hernandez 
From KUNM- about our work getting clients released from the Caravan 

Here in Cibola County, we are facing a crisis as we currently have 12 female clients that are bond eligible but lack the funds to pay any bond that might be set.   Bonds are usually set between $1,500 and $5,000, however the  Judge presiding over these cases is trending towards setting them on the higher end. This is why we are trying to raise $50,000 as soon as possible--to post the bonds and allow these brave chicas to leave prison and pursue their political asylum in safe, supportive, and loving communities.  Every cent of your donation will go to paying bonds for a young trans woman from Cibola County Correctional Center or a similar prison.

Because this is a "revolving bond fund," once the bond amounts are returned to SFDP following the completion of the women's asylum cases, we will be able to use those same funds to post bond for future asylum-seeking trans women. Thus, all donations will have a huge impact for years to come!

Thank you so much in advance for supporting these brave and resilient women!