[1] In 1994, he returned to his home city of Tlapa de Comonfort to found the Center for Human Rights of the Mountain of Tlachinollan.

[2] At the time, indigenous and grassroots groups were on the rise in the area, and Tlachinollan worked to improve their access to education, health care, and legal representation.

In May 2009, the danger to Tlachinollan's staff grew severe enough that the Inter-American Court (IAC) ordered government protection for every member of the organization.

[1] Barrera's lawyer, Vidulfo Rosales, was threatened for his defense of indigenous women in May 2012, causing Tlachinollan to file a complaint on his behalf.

[2] In the same month, Tlachinollan members testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress on military abuses in Guerrero.