A nun was detained by immigration officers last month in McAllen, Texas. Sister Leticia Ugboaja, while on her way to Sunday Mass, was approached by two armed men. Confused and anxious, she carried only her rosary and cellphone. “Honestly, in that moment, I did not understand what was going on,” she stated at a news conference held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church.
Her legal representative explained that Ugboaja has had protection from deportation to Nigeria, where she risks torture. Despite this, on June 28, she was detained near the U.S.-Mexico border but was released after several hours. The ordeal drew attention through parish social media posts, leading Congress members to advocate for her release.
Her arrest comes in the context of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which intensified deportation efforts. Ugboaja, 56, emphasized the importance of providing a voice for others in similar situations. “There are many others in this same situation,” she said, urging for fair hearings before custody.
Carlos M. Garcia, Ugboaja’s attorney, stated that in 2019, while her asylum request was denied, she was granted protection from deportation to Nigeria due to the risk of torture. A nurse by profession, Ugboaja complied with all legal requirements and had work authorization in the U.S.
Her detention followed plans to remove her to a third country—a policy criticized by legal experts and human rights groups. This policy was meant to address the backlog in immigration courts but faced significant legal challenges.
Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor ICE gave comments regarding Ugboaja’s case on Thursday or after her June detention. Ugboaja is affiliated with the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at the church. Professionally, she works at South Texas Health System and was previously a certified nursing assistant for a decade.
Recounting the events of her detention, Ugboaja pleaded with officers to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, a request that was denied. “For me, a nun, not to go to Mass on Sunday, not to receive Communion, it was very heartbreaking,” she expressed.