Nun Detained by ICE While Walking to Mass Speaks Out

Doha, Qatar Jul 24, 2026 ALN: McALLEN, Texas: A nun who was taken into immigration custody last month in Texas said Thursday that she went into a cold sweat as two armed men approached her while she walked to Sunday Mass in her habit, thinking about the day's Bible readings and carrying little more than her rosary and cellphone.

“Honestly, in that moment, I did not understand what was going on, what was happening to me,” Sister Leticia Ugboaja said at a news conference at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, where she spoke out for the first time since US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested her on June 28.

Ugboaja's attorney says she has for years been granted protection from removal to her native Nigeria because she was likely to face torture there. This protection is known as withholding of removal, a form of relief that allows individuals to remain in the United States if they can demonstrate a clear probability of persecution should they return to their home country.

Ugboaja, 56, was released several hours after being detained while on her way to church near the US-Mexico border. Her unexpected detention raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable individuals within the immigration system, particularly those who may have valid claims for protection.

In the wake of her detention, parish officials took to social media to bring attention to her case, which ultimately led to intervention by members of Congress who advocated for her release. This incident highlights the growing trend of community mobilization around immigration issues, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations.

President Donald Trump made mass deportations a central promise of his second administration, with his immigration crackdown leading to unusually aggressive tactics that have faced scrutiny. The administration's policies have often been criticized for their impact on individuals who are already in precarious situations, such as those like Ugboaja who have been granted some form of legal protection.

Ugboaja, who has a check-in appointment with ICE on Tuesday, said she wanted to speak out to help others and pleaded for people to have the chance to be heard before being taken into custody. “There are many others in this same situation, people who have been given some form of protection under our laws, who have followed every rule asked of them, and who still live with uncertainty,” Ugboaja said, emphasizing the plight of many immigrants who navigate a complex and often harsh legal landscape.

While she's grateful to those who helped her, she said that “does not mean I can stay quiet about what happened to me, or about what is still happening to others.” Her statement underscores a broader call for awareness and reform in immigration practices, particularly as they pertain to individuals who have been granted legal protections.

Her attorney, Carlos M. Garcia, sat next to Ugboaja at the news conference and provided details about her immigration case. He explained that in 2019, an immigration judge denied her application for asylum but granted her protection from removal to Nigeria because she likely would be tortured there. This duality of being granted some protections while still facing the threat of removal reflects the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.

Garcia noted that Ugboaja, who is a nurse, has complied with everything required of her and had permission to work in the U.S. This aspect of her case raises questions about the criteria and processes by which individuals are detained, particularly those who are contributing positively to their communities.

When ICE detained Ugboaja in June, she wasn't given much explanation as to why she was taken into custody, her attorney said. But the U.S. planned to remove her to a third country, he added. This is part of a controversial policy under the Trump administration that has sought to expedite the immigration process by sending asylum seekers to third countries for processing. Critics argue that this policy undermines the rights of asylum seekers and places them in potentially dangerous situations.

The Trump administration's third-country removal policy has been criticized by lawyers and human rights groups and has faced legal challenges. Critics argue that such policies violate international law and jeopardize the safety of individuals fleeing persecution. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that these agreements allow people seeking asylum in the U.S. to pursue protection in another country, and that the agreements are used to try to address large backlogs in immigration courts. However, the efficacy and morality of these practices continue to be hotly debated.

DHS and ICE did not respond to a request to comment on Ugboaja's case on Thursday and did not respond to requests for comment after her detention in June. This lack of communication from government agencies contributes to the confusion and anxiety experienced by individuals in the immigration system, as well as their advocates.

Ugboaja is part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and volunteered as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville has said. Her role in the church community illustrates her commitment to service and the support network that surrounds her, which played a crucial role in advocating for her release.

Ugboaja is also a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and worked previously for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant in Edinburg, the spokesperson said. Her professional background highlights the contributions of immigrants to the healthcare system, especially in areas that may face shortages of medical professionals.

Ugboaja said that on the day she was taken into custody, she begged the officers to let her attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, but was told she could not. “For me, a nun, not to go to Mass on Sunday, not to receive Communion, it was very, very heartbreaking for me,” she said. This statement reflects the deep personal and spiritual impact of her detention, as well as the broader implications for religious freedom and the rights of individuals to practice their faith without fear of persecution or detention.

As the U.S. grapples with ongoing debates about immigration policy, cases like Ugboaja's serve as poignant reminders of the human stories behind the statistics. They highlight the need for compassion and understanding in the face of complex legal and social issues. The implications of her detention extend beyond her individual experience, raising questions about the treatment of immigrants, the effectiveness of current policies, and the moral responsibilities of a nation that prides itself on being a refuge for those fleeing persecution.

Nationwide protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies, including the "ICE Out" protests, have swept across the U.S., reflecting widespread discontent with the treatment of immigrants and the tactics employed by ICE. These protests have been characterized by calls for reform and an end to aggressive immigration enforcement practices that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

As more individuals and communities rally around cases like Ugboaja's, the hope is that greater awareness and advocacy will lead to meaningful changes in immigration policy, ensuring that the rights of all individuals are respected and upheld. The ongoing challenges faced by immigrants in the U.S. highlight the need for a more humane approach to immigration that recognizes the dignity and humanity of every person, regardless of their legal status.