Several times a day, long freight trains known as La Bestia pass through the small Mexican town of La Patrona, heading north to the United States. Perched atop these trains are hundreds of men, women and children from Central America and Mexico, who hitch a ride to the border hoping to start a new life in the United States. Along the way, they risk kidnapping, injury, rape, extortion and murder.
It’s not an uncommon sight – particularly as the number of Central Americans fleeing violence in their home countries has led to a full-fledged refugee crisis.
And La Patrona would be no more remarkable than any of the other small towns that the trains rumble through every day, if it weren’t for a group of women whose compassionate act of kindness turned into a movement that has garnered international attention. Las Patronas, as they’ve come to be known, are a group of women who have dedicated themselves to giving out food and water to hundreds of migrants riding the train every day.
An initiative begun by Norma Romero twenty years ago, they are now a group of 15 who prepare large portions of rice, beans, bread, and water to toss to the US-bound migrants. For those riding the train, passing through La Patrona is one of the few bright spots in what is an otherwise arduous and life-threatening journey.![]()
In 2013, Norma Romero was given the Human Rights Award by Mexico’s National Commission of Human Rights for her work with Las Patronas.
In 2013, Norma Romero was given the Human Rights Award by Mexico’s National Commission of Human Rights for her work with Las Patronas.
The group has also been the subject of a documentary called Llévate mis amores. Below, get an intimate glimpse at their important work, in this photo essay from our contributor Hans-Maximo Musielik. – Andrea Gompf