During the next two years, the Sanctuary movement grew. The Chicago Religious Task Force on Central America (CRTFCA) became the national coordinator for the underground railroad, and more than 300 churches and synagogues all over the United States became safe havens for political refugees. As many as 100,000 individuals became supporters of the Sanctuary movement despite the fact that they were breaking federal law by aiding illegal aliens and risking imprisonment and a fine of about $2,000. Starting out, the task force of the Sanctuary movement was overly cautious. Members changed cars frequently when transporting refugees from place to place, disguised the refugees, and followed complicated plans. The result resembled slapstick comedy and caused a great deal of confusion. Because the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) knew of the operation anyway, the task force decided to keep everything out in the open, but to be careful. For a while, the Sanctuary movement was protected by media attention, which brought to light the fact that refugees were being persecuted and that the U.S. government was sending these "illegal aliens" home to be murdered.
Finally, in 1984, several church workers were arrested in Texas and were charged with transporting illegal aliens. In 1985, sixteen sanctuary workers were arrested. Despite the efforts by the government to control the Sanctuary movement, the united community of sanctuary workers remains committed to providing aid to Central American political refugees.
