In 1997 Villagran was sentenced to 40 years in a Mexican prison when he was convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy charges in Chiapas. He always denied the allegations. And was released in 2010.
During his incarceration, he claims to have been tortured, which he cites as a driving force behind his commitment to assisting migrants. Suffering a detached retina while in solitary confinement, Villagran emphasizes that the damage was repaired.
He claims his prison term symbolized the genesis of his mission to uphold the dignity of migrants. And in the last decade Villagran’s influence has grown exponentially.
Over the years the Center for Human Dignity guiding over 40,000 migrants to the US border since September 2021. In a July 2022 interview, he highlighted their focus on aiding the most vulnerable, particularly women and child migrants, emphasizing that their actions align with the law.
Despite the current caravan’s massive scale, Villagran asserts that external organizations do not fund or assist them.
Crisis and Controversy on the border
While Villagran positions himself as a pastor-like figure, critics argue that he and fellow organizer Irineo Mujica are media-savvy tacticians, managing perceptions of the migrant movement.
