Migrants and LGBT people at risk due to the anti-rights advance in financing
Anti-rights governments are gaining momentum in the face of the United States' defunding of organizations that protect migrants and LGBT people.
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MEXICO CITY, Mexico. The United States government is directly attacking the human rights of migrants and LGBT people. Organizations in Mexico and Guatemala are beginning to feel the impact of Donald Trump's decision to withdraw support for foreign assistance programs.
The Trans-Formation Collective in Guatemala lost the funding it used to operate the only clinic focused on providing medical care to trans people in that country. In Mexico, the Casa Frida lost more than 60% of its funding. Humanitarian care for LGBT migrants , asylum seekers, and refugees was already undermined and is now at greater risk. Furthermore, the organization Impulso Trans lost the funding for its project intended to advocate for recognition of the right to identity for trans people in Jalisco.
These are some examples of LGBT organizations in the region affected by the executive order Donald Trump signed on January 24, which suspends US foreign assistance programs for 90 days. All are being analyzed to determine whether they align with his political vision.
A campaign promise
The measure was announced during the presidential campaign through Agenda 47 , a document drafted by Trump. It explains the executive orders that implement his anti-rights policy. It is also part of Project 2025 , a far-right policy plan drafted by former officials from his previous administration in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, a conservative group that opposes abortion, racial equity, and the rights of LGBTI+ people and migrants.
Within the 900-plus-page Project 2025 document, there is a specific section on the limitations of international support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) , and other measures that directly impact the human rights and protection of vulnerable populations.
In 2023, the total amount of U.S. international aid distributed worldwide was $68 billion. USAID alone funded more than $42 billion to sectors, including civil society organizations, according to official data .
For the Latin American region, USAID focused its support primarily on organizations that provide humanitarian assistance and work on economic development and democracy, human rights, and governance .
“The only trans clinic in Guatemala ran out of resources”
The Trans-Formation Collective was founded in 2013 in Guatemala. It is the first Central American organization dedicated to serving and supporting trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth. The United States' suspension of funding through USAID disproportionately affected this organization, which had managed to secure a three-year grant to specifically address the health of trans people in that country.
Tristán López is a member of this organization's board of directors. He explains that the funding provided exponential growth in addressing the right to health, which is still not guaranteed by the Guatemalan government. The funding provided space for the opening of a medical clinic, administrative offices, equipment, and the hiring of multidisciplinary staff and services for its operation. In other words, the right to health was provided to trans people in a country where even the right to gender recognition for trans people is not guaranteed.
“ The only trans clinic in Guatemala has run out of resources, and the outlook is very worrying and discouraging. No one cares about the health of trans people in this country . There is a process within the Ministry of Health, but it's not moving forward or operational. Even under the new government, there's no significant progress on the health strategy. What's more, there are currently three legislative initiatives targeting the LGBT population and women, and this is happening in a climate where civil society organizations are weakened by this lack of funding. We're facing a domino effect,” explains Tristán López.
The total suspension of funding for the only trans clinic in Guatemala jeopardizes the suspension of health services for trans people. It also jeopardizes other services, such as legal assistance for name changes, personal hygiene kits, transportation of trans people from the interior of the country to the capital for care at the clinic, and meetings with various government entities to advocate for the right to health, work, and to oppose the anti-rights policies of Congress.
From September 2024 to January 2025 alone, this clinic served 167 trans people (132 trans men and 35 women) with medical consultations and follow-up care, access to free medications, laboratory tests, psychological care, and comprehensive trans health care for people from 19 municipalities across the country. Trans people from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua received virtual appointments; people on the move from Venezuela and Colombia were also served.
Trump's anti-rights rhetoric strengthens conservative politicians in Guatemala
Conservative representatives in Guatemala are taking advantage of this opportunity to discuss a package of three laws that criminalize transgender people, violate sexual and reproductive rights, and violate comprehensive sexuality education.
One of them is Bill 6473, "for the comprehensive preservation of society." This bill seeks to create a new crime of "promotion of abortion" and expand existing penalties, as well as prohibit same-sex marriage. Bill 6475, "reforms to the criminal code on sexual indemnity," seeks to limit freedom of expression regarding trans identities and prohibit and criminalize those who provide gender-affirming care to trans minors. Finally, Bill 6453, "the law on sexual education for the protection of children and adolescents," prohibits the discussion of comprehensive sexual education.
“These initiatives should not only be seen as anti-rights, but also as anti-democratic because they are designed to put the president (Bernardo Arévalo) in check. Because I believe he has a conviction for human rights, but these initiatives are clearly unconstitutional, they are openly discriminatory. And that's why it's very important to understand that these are anti-democratic efforts to undermine the rule of law. And although human rights are an unpopular discourse, it's very important to understand that they are at the heart of democracy,” explains Tristán López.
Casa Frida: "We are going through an unprecedented crisis."
Casa Frida was founded in 2020 as a shelter and organization dedicated to providing comprehensive humanitarian aid. It currently has three locations: Tapachula, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Following the suspension of international aid, the protection and safety of at least 300 LGBT migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees is at risk.
In addition, legal assistance, psychosocial support, and food service programs, as well as projects dedicated to reducing inequalities and providing access to healthcare, are also at risk. The suspension compromises the capacity to serve more than 1,500 LGBTI people who are served on average annually at its three locations.
“Just over 60% of Casa Frida's budget for 2025-2026 is currently suspended. This doesn't mean they've suspended our agreement renewal, but the funds already in Casa Frida can't be used. We have to wait for instructions, which is causing a sustainability crisis. We don't know how to guarantee current expenses or cover the rent for the three shelters. Our humanitarian assistance in Tapachula is limited. Food security is at risk, as is legal and psychosocial assistance. We are going through an unprecedented crisis that hits us at a tragic time ,” Raúl Caporal, director of Casa Frida, said with concern in an interview.
Casa Frida's unique situation comes at a time when its services are in greater demand due to the worsening migration crisis and the consequences of Donald Trump's initial actions regarding his anti-immigrant policies. This resulted in the suspension of the CBP-one program, which provided asylum application appointments, forcing LGBT migrants to remain in Mexico and seek international protection in this country .
Trans Impulse lost funding to promote the gender identity law in Jalisco.
In Jalisco, the right to gender identity is not legislated. Although transgender people (including children) can apply for identity recognition by decree , Congress refused to guarantee this right in law.
Impulso Trans had a fund to strengthen this process through political advocacy and training for public officials on Advisory Opinion 24/2017 of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights . Due to the suspension of funding, this resource was canceled.
Izack Zacarías, president of this organization, told Presentes that they will strive to achieve this goal. "With or without resources, we will move this project forward because it's work we've already done before. It's just that now hiring is limited, and our workload will increase."
Organizations seek financing alternatives
“It seems like all our partners are aligning or seeking to align themselves with Trump's policies for his continued presence, but they're leaving us out in the cold. We're evaluating whether it will be necessary to shut down any of our locations. We've developed some emergency plans, including relocating staff to locations with higher demand. We're appealing to the private sector, other governments, and agencies to see if we can access emergency funds to recover from this huge loss ,” added Raúl Caporal.
If you'd like to support Casa Frida, please contact us at casafrida@refugiolgbt.org.
“We are now very concerned because after the cancellation, we will no longer be providing healthcare to trans people. It also led to the dismissal of eleven people from the contracted multidisciplinary team, and a scholarship and entrepreneurship program that was set to begin and benefit 130 trans men and women will likely be suspended. We are looking into how to make the clinic sustainable. For now, we are considering seeking donations through crowdfunding and other emergency funds,” explains Tristán López of Colectivo Trans-Formación in Guatemala.
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