<p>This paper investigates the role of Central and South American migrant testimonies for transient refugees in Mexico to understand narrative construction and legitimizing their identities during the periods of legal liminality on the trails. The central questions of inquiry consider the following: How do refugees maintain personhood through narrative construction during periods of statelessness and displacement? Furthermore, how does the Catholic Church facilitate narrative production and legitimation as it relates to the lived experiences, present moment, and aspirations for resettlement? The authors employ a discourse analysis using secondary data of migrant testimonies (<i>N</i> = 34) collected by a Catholic refugee shelter in Puebla, Mexico, to understand how refugees maintain personhood through narrative construction during moments of ‘statelessness’ and to understand how the Church legitimizes their identities. The authors primarily find that threats, corruption, gratitude to the Church and aid workers, and unclear testimonies were the primary reasons for displacement, and most of the participants discussed resettlement aspirations in the USA. The authors conclude that participants’ faith in God and humanity is the principle code that appears across testimonies to legitimate personhood by providing sanctuary through a common mission of all living a dignified life, regardless of citizenship.</p>