In the 1980s, with the civil war in Guatemala at its worst, churches in the United States rekindled an old idea: sanctuary. The year is 1982 and Miguel Colera, a former Guatemalan soldier, has been recruited to form a refugee network to help families targeted by the government. Standing in his way is Miguel's childhood friend and former brother in arms, Nestor, tasked with making certain Miguel never leaves Guatemala. After Miguel's wife and three sons disappear, Miguel must get his only remaining child out of Guatemala using his own underground railroad. Miguel, his daughter, and two dozen other refugees are headed to the small South Dakotan town of his former lover, Ellie Nilsson, who pastors the Midwest town's local church - but is unaware that Miguel is coming. Having met Miguel in the early 1970s, Ellie is now trying to help her small farming town in South Dakota as pastor to their church. When Miguel arrives unexpectedly with two dozen refugees, the mix of cultures further strains the conservative Lutheran congregation already struggling with having a woman as their pastor. When Nestor arrives, threatening and kidnapping people in this small, once-peaceful town, South Dakota now seems as dangerous as Guatemala. Only Miguel can face Nestor and make the town a safe place for his daughter to grow up.