Nun Detained by ICE in Texas While Heading to Mass

Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a 56-year-old nun from Nigeria, was detained by ICE on June 28 while walking to Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas. She was dressed in her habit and carrying her rosary and cellphone when two armed ICE officers stopped her.

Ugboaja expressed her fear during the incident, stating it was heartbreaking for her, as a nun, to miss Mass and communion. After several hours, she was released due to the intervention of Texas lawmakers, including Republican Rep.

Monica de la Cruz and Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, and Joaquin Castro.

Her arrest garnered national attention after parish officials posted about it on social media. Ugboaja's attorney, Carlos M.

Garcia, noted that while her asylum application was denied in 2019, she was granted protection from removal under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Despite a final order of removal, she has complied with all immigration conditions since then, including maintaining a valid work permit and attending mandatory appointments.