Questions continue to surround the circumstances of the detention of Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a Nigerian national and registered nurse, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville announced that Sister Ugboaja was detained on Sunday while en route to attend Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas.
Sister Ugboaja, who is part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy congregation, has served as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and previously worked as a certified nursing assistant for a decade. She also volunteers as a minister at the church.
She was released on the same day she was detained. U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz, a Republican, stated on Facebook that her office was working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expedite her release. De La Cruz added that immigration enforcement should prioritize targeting violent criminals, emphasizing that a nun on her way to church is not a threat to the community.
Bishop Daniel E. Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville condemned the arrest, expressing gratitude for Sister Ugboaja's release but noting that many questions remain. "Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to Church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed," Bishop Flores said in a statement.
U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, also voiced concerns on X, stating that reports of the nun's arrest "raise serious concerns about how immigration enforcement resources are being used."
The Diocese of Brownsville acknowledged the assistance of local representatives who reached out to DHS on Sister Ugboaja's behalf. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the specific reasons for her detention or the procedures followed.