A Catholic nun detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while en route to church services in south Texas has been released after Congressional intervention.
Sister Leticia Ugboaja was stopped by ICE officers on Sunday as she walked to Our Lady of Sorrows church in McAllen, a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. She was wearing her religious habit at the time of the arrest.
The Diocese of Brownsville confirmed Ugboaja's detention through a social media post that quickly gained public attention. U.S. House Representative Monica de la Cruz and other south Texas lawmakers subsequently contacted federal officials requesting her release.
By Monday, Ugboaja had been released and returned home. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville said the organization was "grateful for the quick response of local representatives who reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to get her released from custody."
Ugboaja serves as a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, a religious community, and volunteers as an extraordinary minister of holy communion at the McAllen parish. She also works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and spent a decade as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg.
The case reflects broader concerns among faith leaders about immigration enforcement operations targeting sensitive locations. Houses of worship have become points of friction as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, prompting some religious communities to implement contingency measures including virtual services and assistance programs for members afraid to leave their homes.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not respond to requests for comment regarding the detention or the circumstances surrounding Ugboaja's apprehension.
Author James Rodriguez: "The fact that a nun in full habit could be arrested on her way to Sunday mass in Trump's second term shows how dramatically the immigration enforcement landscape has shifted, and it's forcing faith communities into crisis management mode."
Comments