ICE released Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a Roman Catholic nun detained while walking to mass in her habit in south Texas, after members of Congress intervened, diocese officials said.
Arrest and Detention
Sister Leticia Ugboaja was walking to Our Lady of Sorrows church in McAllen, Texas, just a few miles from the US-Mexico border, when she was detained by ICE officers, the church said in a statement on social media. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have not responded to a request for comment since Sunday.
Intervention and Release
Church officials’ social media post shortly after her arrest gained traction in the news and led to Congress members – including US House member Monica De La Cruz, a south Texas Republican – intervening on Ugboaja’s behalf. As of Monday, after De la Cruz and other US House members from south Texas intervened with federal officials, Ugboaja was back in her home.
“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,” said Brenda Riojas, a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Texas.
Background on Sister Ugboaja
The nun is part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and volunteered as an extraordinary minister of holy communion at Our Lady of Sorrows, according to Riojas. Ugboaja is also a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, Riojas confirmed. She worked previously for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas.
Broader Immigration Crackdown
The immigration crackdown that Donald Trump’s administration has carried out during his second presidency – including at sensitive sites such as houses of worship – has prompted faith leaders to adjust their response to church members who have become too afraid to attend. Some have encouraged online attendance, and others have offered help doing errands such as grocery shopping for people too fearful to leave their homes.
