A nun from Texas was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month, sparking attention and concern. Sister Leticia Ugboaja shared her experience on Thursday during a news conference held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas. Recalling the moment of her detainment, she described feeling confused and scared as she was approached by armed men on her way to Sunday Mass with only her rosary and cellphone.
Ugboaja has been under protection from being sent back to her native Nigeria for years, as she faces the threat of torture there. She was arrested on June 28 near the U.S.-Mexico border but released several hours later. Her case gained wider attention after parish officials posted about her situation on social media, prompting intervention from members of Congress.
With President Donald Trump’s administration emphasizing mass deportations, Ugboaja’s case highlights the aggressive tactics that have been scrutinized. She has an upcoming check-in with ICE and spoke out to advocate for others in similar situations. She emphasized the need for people to have a chance to be heard before being detained.
Ugboaja’s attorney, Carlos M. Garcia, explained that although her asylum request was denied in 2019, she was granted protection from removal due to the risk of torture in Nigeria. Despite complying with U.S. immigration rules and having permission to work as a nurse, Ugboaja was given little explanation for her detention in June.
The Trump administration’s third-country removal policy, which faced legal challenges and criticism from human rights advocates, aimed to redirect asylum seekers to other countries to manage immigration court backlogs. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on Ugboaja’s case.
Ugboaja is a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and volunteered as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She also worked as a registered nurse in South Texas. On the day of her arrest, she pleaded with officers to attend Mass and receive Communion, expressing deep sorrow at being denied this religious practice.
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