A coalition of Oakland churches founded the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant in the early '80s to address the overwhelming needs of immigrants fleeing the violent civil wars in Central America. Jackson Browne, whose lyrics were increasingly political, had recently turned his attention to that turbulent area, and he arranged for Nueva Cancion band, Sangre Machehual [literally 'blood of the poor'], to perform with him at this benefit. EBSC was able to open a halfway house for refugees on Christmas Eve, 1986.