Texas Sanctuary Rio Grande Valley Collection
Scope and Contents Note
The collection documents the Sanctuary Movement, specifically the work of sanctuary activists in the Rio Grande Valley region of the Texas-Mexico border. The materials are arranged into five series: I. Testimonies and Oral Histories, II. Sanctuary Movement Materials, III. Merkt and Elder Papers, IV. Central America Context and U.S. Policy, V. Audiovisual and Born Digital Material.
The first series, Testimonies and Oral Histories, is comprised of transcripts of interviews with people involved in the Sanctuary Movement in Texas.
Series two, Sanctuary Movement Materials, includes collected materials about the sanctuary movement. The series is organized in six subseries: 1. Correspondence, 2. Writings, 3. Sanctuary Movement, 4. Sanctuary Movement in Texas, 5. Newspaper Clippings, and 6. Magazines, Journals, Newsletters, and Pamphlets.
The third series, Merkt and Elder Papers, is organized into three subseries that document the work of Stacey Merkt and John (aka Jack) Elder and the cases brought against them for their participation in the sanctuary movement. The first subseries, Correspondence and personal writings, includes letters by, to, and about Merkt and Elder and their legal proceedings, as well as journals and personal writings by the two activists. The second, Trial Documents, includes materials from the various trials of Merkt and Elder. The third, Newspaper clippings, is comprised of newspapers covering the cases of Merkt and Elder.
Series four, Central America Context and U.S. Policy, includes materials related to the social, political, and economic situation of Central American nations collected by sanctuary workers as well as policy proposals relating to immigration to the United States.
The fifth and final series, Audiovisual and Born Digital Material, is organized into two subseries: 1. Texas Sanctuary Notes and 2. Other Tapes and Born Digital Materials. It includes oral histories. The tapes have been digitized and access copies are available for reading room use.
Dates
- Creation: 1982-2002,
- Creation: 2006,
- Creation: 2014,
- Creation: 2018
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1984-1991
Language of Materials
Spanish, English
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted.
Use Restrictions
Standard copyright restrictions apply.
Administrative History
This collection is a compilation of materials gathered by sanctuary activists relating to the work of individuals and faith communities in Texas, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley, to support Central American migrants in the 1980s and 1990s..
The Sanctuary Movement began in the early 1980s, when individuals and faith communities across the United States came together to support migrants from Central America—particularly from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—who were fleeing war, political violence, and persecution. Concerned by U.S. interventionist policies in Central America and the U.S.government's refusal to grant asylum to new arrivals from the region, sanctuary activists provided shelter and material support to migrants, advocated for pathways to immigration status, educated the public about the impact of U.S interventionist policies, and organized delegations to Central American communities affected by political violence.
The Sanctuary Movement originated in the U.S.-Mexico border region, with Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, becoming the first to declare sanctuary on March 24, 1982. It was soon joined by churches across Texas, Arizona, California, and eventually throughout the country. By the mid-1980s, over 150 congregations, including Catholic, Presbyterian, Jewish, and Quaker communities, were defying federal laws and providing shelter and assistance to Central American migrants.
In the early 1980s, the U.S.government began infiltrating sanctuary networks and arresting sanctuary workers on charges relating to the provision of material support to undocumented people. The cases brought against activists Stacy Merkt and John (aka Jack) Elder, documented in this collection, were some of the most prominent and public sanctuary cases in Texas.
Full Extent
5 linear feet
Abstract
This collection documents the work of activists and lay workers involved in the U.S.–Central American Sanctuary Movement, with a focus on activities in Texas, particularly the Rio Grande Valley. Materials include testimonies, oral histories, writings, correspondence, newspaper clippings, legal records, and other documentation of sanctuary efforts. The collection also contains materials related to the legal cases of sanctuary activists Stacey Merkt and John B. Elder.
Acquisition Information
Donated by John B. Elder, Blake Gentry, Laurie Melrood and, Stacey Merkt, 2023.
Accession number: 2023-49
Additions
Further materials are expected for this collection.
Alternative Form Available
Tapes from Box 5 have been digitized. Access copies are available in Box 5.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Maria Guadalupe Partida and Rosa de Jong, (Benson Special Collections Graduate Research Assistants), Spring 2025.
- Title
- Texas Sanctuary Rio Grande Valley Collection
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection
- Date
- 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Dacs)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin Repository
2300 Red River Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4578
bensonspecialcollections@austin.utexas.edu