The woman saving trans lives at the US-Mexico border: ‘Why would I turn my back on them?’

The shelter Susana Susy' Barrales runs in Tijuana has become a destination for trans women fleeing persecution and looking for support and healthcare

Susana Susy" Barrales cuts a dash in downtown Tijuana, exchanging hellos with neighbors, friends and acquaintances whenever she heads out from her modest office, where the walls are adorned with framed awards from local government entities praising her advocacy work.

The shelter she runs in the city on the Mexico border with California has become a destination for many from other Mexican cities and countries in Central America, and beyond, who hear about it on the migration grapevine.