Dora: A Daughter of Unforgiving Terrain

"Dora Rodriguez is the modern day hero we so desperately need. I was forever changed after reading her story of survival, love, and perseverance. A must read for these dark times."

- Javier Zamora

author of Solito

"Dora Rodriguez is a remarkable human being. Her story of survival and lifelong commitment to saving lives in the borderlands is an inspiration. Her memoir comes at a critical moment in history and should be read by everyone. We need more of Dora's compassion and empathy in the world."

- Melissa del Bosque,

co-founder of The Border Chronicle

"There are few people in this world who inspire me more than Dora Rodriguez-her story is the very embodiment of tenacity and resilience, of hope and solidarity. If you want to understand how the cruelty and violence of border enforcement might be transformed into the raw material for inspiration, grace, and service, look no further."

- Francisco Cantú,

author of The Line Becomes a River

"Some books speak straight to the soul, and this is one of them. Dora is a nuanced, heart-filled, and heartbreaking tale from one of the most committed, sagacious, and inspiring activists I've ever met. Tracing her multiple attempts at finding safety, a profound tragedy in the desert, and her own coming-of-age as a mother and activist, Rodriguez details the human costs of border militarization-and how she overcame them. This is a crucial book of crystalline moral clarity."

John Washington,

investigative reporter, translator, & author

The Dispossessed (2020)

The Case for Open Borders (2024)