In El Salvador, Santamaría co-founded Colectiva Alejandría, focusing on advocating for LGBTQI+ rights, particularly for transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse individuals. Her work involved collaboration with NGOs, activists, and government entities across Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States to raise awareness about the violations and realities faced by LGBTQI+ communities. Due to threats related to her activism, she sought asylum in the United States.[4]
After relocating to the U.S., Santamaría became the Executive Director of El/La Para TransLatinas, a San Francisco-based organization that supports transgender Latinas. In this role, she has developed diverse programs, supported staff growth, strengthened partnerships with community allies and organizations, ensured continued funding and financial stability, and served as the organization's spokesperson.[5]
Santamaría has been actively involved in various advocacy efforts, including participating in the Transgender Day of Remembrance and engaging with policymakers to promote human rights and social justice. She has also shared her experiences and insights through public speaking engagements, such as the Racial Justice Speaker Series at UC Davis School of Law.[6][7]