Minister at Texas Church Attended by Senate Candidate Confirms Sanctuary Status

A minister at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in North Austin, Texas, recently stated that the congregation operates as a sanctuary church and has provided housing to an undocumented immigrant for eight years. Rev. Carol Johnson, the minister for Welcome & Invitation, made the remarks in a video released by the conservative outlet Texas Scorecard. In the footage, Johnson described the church as a values-based community focused on the Sermon on the Mount rather than traditional creeds, noting the congregation’s long-standing advocacy for racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and immigration issues.

The disclosure has drawn criticism from political opponents of U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, who is a member of the congregation. Critics have characterized the church's actions as harboring individuals in the country illegally. While Texas law does not explicitly prohibit undocumented individuals from residing in private homes, the state maintains strict regulations regarding employment authorization for those without legal status. Neither Talarico’s campaign nor the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) had provided a formal response to the reports as of Tuesday afternoon.