Las Libres, a Mexican organization at the forefront of building networks of self-managed abortion accompaniment across the Americas, is taking on the US. Its members have set up the Red Transfronteriza, a cross-border network fulfilling dozens of requests for free abortion pills and support every day – despite the legal challenges. This initiative builds on Mexico’s history of grassroots abortion care, where networks like Las Libres and others have long practiced community-based support as a strategy to resist criminalization and expand access in restrictive legal environments. The cross-border network unites experienced acompañantes from Mexico, and hundreds of American volunteers – many of whom were galvanized into action in 2022.

At the same time, the fragmented landscape of abortion access in the U.S. post-Dobbs has been reshaped by the emergence of U.S.-based community networks. These groups provide free abortion pills by mail and offer (virtual) doula support. Such networks, many of which are listed on platforms like Plan C, operate alongside Las Libres, blending accompaniment principles with frameworks like mutual aid and harm reduction to offer critical care.

The Green Wave is coming North

As a key player in Latin America’s Green Wave movement, Las Libres emphasizes “social decriminalization”. This approach uses self-managed abortion and feminist solidarity to normalize abortion in society, fostering a shift in public attitudes and contributing to legal reforms, as seen in Mexico. Las Libres’ Modelo Integral de Acompañamiento para un Aborto Seguro (MIAAS) is a radical rejection of reproductive responsibilization and challenges reproductive governance through the provision of free, alegal abortion access, critical information, and stigma-free (virtual) spaces for abortion seekers. By cultivating peer-to-peer relationships, their model empowers those who receive care to become acompañantes themselves, fostering organic, community-driven growth.

In 2021, significant legal changes on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border catalyzed the expansion of Las Libres into the United States. The Mexican Supreme Court issued landmark rulings contributing to the gradual decriminalization of abortion, while Texas enacted the six-week abortion ban SB8, a precursor to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. This pivotal moment prompted Las Libres to establish the Red Transfronteriza, with an initial focus on supporting Latinx migrants. However, demand surged dramatically following Dobbs, as millions of Americans lost access to legal abortion.

The rapid increase in requests overwhelmed the small team in Guanajuato, Mexico. In response, Las Libres partnered with Fuck the Patriarchy (FTP), a collective of predominantly older white American activists, many of whom were galvanized by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. FTP created a parallel system to adapt the accompaniment model to the U.S. context, emphasizing structured protocols and security measures to manage demand.

The Politics of Accompaniment

Despite differences in their methods, both Las Libres and FTP share a fundamental commitment to expanding access to abortion. Both provide alegal abortion care, critical information, and virtual support to those navigating restrictive laws undermining systems designed to control reproductive behaviors. They also illustrate how grassroots care can be adapted across borders, balancing immediate needs with long-term advocacy for systemic change. Both approaches contribute to the broader struggle against reproductive governance, offering a dual strategy of care and resistance. Yet, my research has shown that the divergence of methods reflects deeper political differences.

For Las Libres, accompaniment is inherently political, aiming to dismantle stigma and challenge reproductive governance. Their commitment to “social decriminalization” prioritizes visibility, accessibility, and the organic growth of networks. Activists view accompaniment as a tool for transforming societal norms and fostering collective resistance to the criminalization of abortion.

For FTP, the U.S. legal climate necessitates discretion. Their pragmatic approach focuses on operational efficiency and security, ensuring reliable care under constant threat of criminalization. This cautious approach meets immediate needs but may risk depoliticizing accompaniment, framing it as a service rather than a tool for solidarity and systemic transformation.

“Mexico is telling you: here’s the solution”

The emergence of feminist abortion accompaniment networks in the U.S. represents a powerful grassroots response to the erosion of legal abortion access. By adapting strategies from Latin America, these networks have provided critical care to thousands while challenging the systems that seek to further limit reproductive freedom. These evolving networks highlight how grassroots care can reshape abortion access, addressing immediate needs while challenging stigma and advancing the struggle for systemic change –  a reminder that grassroots activism has the power to transform systems and lives alike.

In the words of one activist: “Mexico is telling you: here’s the solution.” The path forward lies in embracing the diversity of strategies and perspectives within feminist abortion accompaniment and community support, ensuring that their care remains accessible, empowering, and revolutionary.