A native Texan, mother, and advocate for life, Sheena Rodriguez first became involved in the pro-life movement by counseling women who were considering abortions. Now, she works tirelessly as an advocate for secure borders, as the impacts of open borders often hurt the most vulnerable among us: women and children who are smuggled across.
As a counselor, Sheena often came face to face with various versions of modern-day slave trade.
I would see and counsel women who, for the lack of better terms, were mail order brides sent over from Iran, Iraq, different Middle Eastern countries, and some Asian countries, coming in looking for an abortion because they’re [in a] forced marriage. It was very heart-wrenching, heartbreaking. And it’s kind of that modern-day slavery that I talk about now. I’ve counseled and seen that face.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and assaults on liberty, Sheena became more active in the political realm, attending rallies and eventually feeling led to focus on Texas politics.
Becoming a Citizen Advocate
Sheena took a deep dive into the issues surrounding open borders and illegal immigration. Now, as the founder and president of Alliance for a Safe Texas, Sheena works to educate the grassroots on the ongoing border invasion and provides direction on how to get involved and how counties can declare an invasion.
I hear so many people complaining on social media, and they’re angry, even state officials, and then they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not gonna go to Austin. I’m not going to send this email. They’re not going to listen anyways.’ And I’m like you’re doing exactly what the left wants you to do, I promise you it is effective, it would be even more effective if it was done on a massive scale. And I think that with the Alliance for Safe Texas and what we’ve been trying to do is trying to bring border awareness on how it impacts everyone, bringing it to their doorstep.
Sheena says “a lot of the issues that we’re seeing right now have always existed, [and] Texas is always going to be at the forefront of it. But it’s not just what they see along the border.”
In actuality, the open border impacts all of Texas. “We’re pulling data, we’re pulling stats, I’m speaking to people, we’re researching and then saying this is a border-related issue,” said Sheena. “This is how you are directly impacted. This is how your taxpayer dollars are directly impacted right here in your city, in your county. And now this is what you can do about it.”
The people of Texas: If you’re tired of this, stand up and do something about it. Do something on your city level. Do something on your county level.
Sheena is working to help give Texans the tools they need to educate themselves and others on the border invasion and how to communicate with legislators regarding what Texas can do to stop it.
“They don’t know how. They’ve never been in this arena before. And they need to be given the tools so that they can be successful in fighting for their communities and their families.”
Politicians
As a homeschooling mom, Sheena’s daughter has accompanied her to the Texas Capitol and along the border. She’s attended legislative hearings and spoken with state representatives and senators from across the state. Although they “talk dull,” in the words of a 16-year-old, Sheena says it’s one of the most important things she’s shown her daughter—politicians are people, too.
Oftentimes, when confronted with an elected official, people can be intimidated. And yet, Sheena emphasizes that “they’re just regular people like you and I.”
And it’s time to remind them who they work for. And let them see your face. Let them hear your stories. They need to hear from people outside of the top brass or outside of invited testimonies. And sometimes we do kind of put them on a pedestal, this elitist pedestal, and when you break it down, and you shake their hand, and you have these conversations with them and their staffers, you realize very quickly most of them actually will listen to you, as long as you’re respectful.
“We’re just there to help as a guide and then bring awareness along the way,” said Sheena. And besides donations, “the biggest thing is becoming an activist in your own way,” encourages Sheena, “whether it’s sharing information … you don’t have to be someone on the forefront. If you don’t feel comfortable with sharing the information, [then] digging, doing the research, putting in those requests of information, and holding your city and county officials and state officials accountable. Those are really the biggest ways that people can help get involved.”
Why Get Involved?
“People are dying. People are being exploited,” said Sheena.
And when you’re talking about the exploitation of human beings? That’s why it is such a pro-life issue for me. It must be stopped, and we can’t stay silent.
“I’m just another mom, just like you,” says Sheena. “And you can do this; stand with me and fight back. Say enough is enough, and we’re not going to tolerate this anymore.
“Even though everyone looks at you and says, ‘You’re not anyone special.’ I’m like, ‘No, but I’m the daughter of the living God. And so long as I’m breathing, I’m gonna stand up and say this isn’t right and try to do what I can,’” said Sheena. “That’s why we started the nonprofit, started the activism, [and] started trying to raise the alarm.”
But I think what really keeps me going is knowing that I serve a purpose far greater than Texas, than this country. It’s God and God alone. That’s it. I don’t do it for man, I don’t do it even for the red, white, and blue that I love so very much. It’s much bigger than that.
Faced with the depravity and evil of the criminal cartel organizations smuggling women and children across the border, Sheena acknowledges that it can be lonely and dark. Faith and family are the only reasons to keep fighting.
“It really is just knowing that I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do, doing it for godly principles, and then being able to look my children in the face, eye to eye, and say I did absolutely everything I could … we literally did everything we humanly could to try to stop this.”
