Border Butterfly Project (BBP) is a transformative force at the intersection of immigrant justice and LGBTQ+ liberation, addressing the urgent and often overlooked needs of queer and trans BIPOC migrants both at the U.S. Southern border and internationally. Our work is guided by a deep understanding of the complex geopolitical dynamics, international migration patterns and LGBTQ+ policies that create and drive displacement. We recognize the impact of violence, persecution and systemic lack of resources and support that disproportionately affect BIPOC migrants, compelling them to seek safety, shelter and stability.
While immigrant rights organizations are prevalent, many lack the lens to effectively serve LGBTQ+ migrants. Likewise, many LGBTQ+ organizations encounter difficulties in providing the necessary support for queer and trans BIPOC migrants, often lacking the resources and preparation to effectively guide them to trustworthy, essential and affirming advocacy services. BBP fills this gap standing as the only organization directly and purposefully serving LGBTQ+ migrants at every stage—while at the border, during their entry, and as they settle in the U.S. awaiting the adjudication of their claims. In collaboration with key partners such as the Transgender Law Center, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP), Casa Arcoiris and the Refugee Health Alliance, BBP provides culturally competent, trauma-informed, and practical intersectional support and measures of care, advancing the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ migrants.
BBP is committed to advocating for the rights and needs of trans and queer BIPOC migrants at the U.S. southern border, within the country and internationally. Through culturally competent and trauma-informed support and in collaboration with key partners, we strive to promote comprehensive services and dignity in the movement as a means to advance LGBTQ+ liberation and just and humane practices for migrants.
At BBP, we envision a world where trans and queer BIPOC migrants are fully recognized, and the needs of our LGBTQ+ migrant communities are addressed. We strive for an inclusive immigration system that respects and upholds the rights, dignity and humanity of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and immigration status.
We are dedicated to cultivating a supportive and intentional environment in which every LGBTQ+ migrant can flourish and live authentically, free from the fear of discrimination and persecution. Our commitment to social justice drives us to advocate for humane immigration policies, raise awareness about the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ migrants and promote systemic change.
Together, we can build a future where all are celebrated, further strengthening and enriching our communities.
Our values are grounded in a deep commitment to equity, ensuring that queer and trans BIPOC migrants have access to the resources and support they deserve by actively dismantling systemic barriers. We uphold the dignity of every individual, providing services rooted in respect, compassion, and cultural competence, informed by ongoing education. Our trauma-informed approach acknowledges the significant challenges LGBTQ+ migrants face, fostering spaces for wellness and support. Through collaboration and advocacy, we amplify our collective impact and influence systemic change. We empower individuals to advocate for their rights while being committed to an intersectional approach that addresses overlapping identities–such as race, gender, sexual orientation and immigration status.
Isa Noyola (She/Her) is a pioneering trans-Latina activist and national leader in the LGBTQ+ immigrant rights movement serving within the United States and across the U.S. Southern border. As a passionate and seasoned organizer rooted in her community, she advocates for the abolition of oppressive systems that criminalize, harm, and dehumanize immigrant communities of the global majority. Isa is the director of the Border Butterfly Project an effort serving queer and trans migrants with culturally competent and trauma informed comprehensive services in order to promote just and humane practices in the immigration system. . She actively campaigns for the release of transgender women held in ICE detention and calls for an end to deportations and mass incarceration targeting marginalized communities.
Isa has also been a co-president of the Women’s March board and is a co-founder of El/La Para TransLatinas, a community-based organization in San Francisco. She has served on the advisory boards of Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, the Radical Imagination Family Fund and the International Trans Fund. Currently, she is featured in The California Museum’s exhibit, “California Women Inspire: Celebrating Women’s Equality in the Golden State.”
BBP’s team of Caseworkers is dedicated to advocating for the rights and needs of trans and queer BIPOC migrants. Their crucial and impactful work extends across the country and internationally, ensuring support for clients in the program and within the immigration system making a profound difference in the lives of those we serve.
