S7, Ep. 04: Criminalizing Mercy: Sanctuary and Government Repression of Migrant Justice
When did mercy become a crime?
Today, we are bringing you a special presentation on the contested issue of “sanctuary,” which continues to cut into the immigration debates in our country. Dr. Sergio M. González traces the sanctuary movement to its roots in the 1980s and examines how we arrived at a moment where mercy is met with repression. This presentation was given on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 22, 2025, as part of BJC’s annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State.
SHOW NOTES
Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): Introduction
Dr. Sergio M. González is a historian of U.S. immigration, labor and religion. A professor at Marquette University, he is a co-founder and former organizer for the Dane Sanctuary Coalition.
He also is the co-creator of a podcast titled “Sanctuary: On the Border Between Church and State.”
Segment 2 (starting at 04:45): Presentation from Dr. Sergio M. González
This is a recording of a lecture from Dr. Sergio González that took place Oct. 22, 2025, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. Watch the full presentation, including the audience Q&A, on BJC’s YouTube channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSnDp8hPNIo
Dr. Gonzalez mentions a document called “Religious Liberty and Immigration: Legal Analysis of Past and Future Claims.” You can access it on the website of the Law, Rights & Religion Project.
This program was part of BJC’s annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State. Learn more at BJConline.org/ShudenLectures.
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