Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a Nigerian Catholic nun, walked out of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after her arrest on a Texas street drew sharp scrutiny from Congress members. ICE officers detained her while she headed to Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen, near the US-Mexico border.
The church posted details of her arrest on social media, sparking outrage that reached Capitol Hill. Representative Monica De La Cruz, a Republican lawmaker from south Texas, joined other officials in demanding her release.
Ugboaja belongs to the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at the McAllen parish. Brenda Riojas, a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, told reporters that Ugboaja also works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System.
For the decade before that, she worked as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg. The religious community had no public statement from the Department of Homeland Security or ICE about why officers arrested her.
After De La Cruz and her congressional allies pressed DHS officials, Ugboaja was freed and returned home on Monday. Riojas said the quick action by local representatives made the difference in securing her release.
"We are grateful for the quick response of local representatives who reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to get her released from custody," Riojas added.
The detention reflects the harsh immigration crackdowns under President Donald Trump's second term in office. Federal agents have increasingly swept into sensitive areas, including churches and temples, leaving immigrant communities afraid to attend worship services.
Some religious leaders have pivoted toward online worship options to keep congregants safe. Others have stepped in to help with basic errands like grocery runs for those too frightened to leave home.
