Religious denomination that roots to 16th century anabaptists. In 1977 a group of 653 Mennonites of the Old Colony sect immigrated to Grimes County, Texas from Canada and Mexico. Hoping to establish a farm- based community on 6,400 acres, they were unable to secure water rights and, as a result, soon defaulted on a bank loan. Their legal status then came into question and United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen successfully petitioned the U.S. Congress to admit citizenship upon the 653 Mennonites who faced deportation. The problem received national and international attention. The major television networks, along with the "New York Times", "Los Angeles Times", and the "Washington Post" featured the story.
From the description of Mennonite Collection, 1977-1980. (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 25101320
