Texas nun detained by ICE while walking to Mass speaks out for first time

Nigerian Nun Speaks Out After ICE Detention During Church Visit

Cybersecarmor.com – Weeks following her highly publicized arrest, a Catholic sister from Nigeria has shared her experience for the first time regarding the encounter that sparked nationwide debate. Sister Leticia “Letty” Ugboaja, a 56-year-old religious sister, explained that she still carries anxiety and doubt about her future after being taken into custody by federal immigration agents.

The incident occurred on June 28 in McAllen, a South Texas city positioned just above the international boundary with Mexico. Ugboaja was making her way to Our Lady of Sorrows Church for Sunday worship when two armed federal officers intercepted her. She had been preparing to serve as a eucharistic minister during the service when the confrontation took place.

Describing the Moment of Arrest

“I was very much afraid, with cold sweat,” Ugboaja recalled during a July 23 news conference. “I did not expect on an ordinary Sunday morning when people should be ready to go to Mass to worship the Lord” that she would be taken into custody.

Her release came later that same day following intervention from members of Texas’s congressional delegation and widespread public reaction to seeing a nun in her traditional habit being detained while heading to worship. The situation generated criticism from politicians across both major parties, who questioned the reasoning behind her arrest.

Legal Status and Protection

Ugboaja’s attorney, Carlos M. Garcia, provided additional context regarding her immigration situation. An immigration judge rejected her asylum petition in 2019 but subsequently granted her protection from being sent back to Nigeria. The judge determined that Ugboaja satisfied the stringent legal threshold demonstrating it was more probable than not that she would encounter torture if returned to her home country.

According to Garcia, this protection prevents the U.S. government from deporting her specifically to Nigeria. However, she continues to carry a final order of removal since her asylum application was initially denied. She has adhered to every requirement of her immigration status following the ruling, including keeping her employment authorization current and attending all mandatory immigration appointments.

“She has done everything the law has asked of her,” Garcia stated at the news conference.

Third-Country Removal Concerns

During her detention, Ugboaja was given minimal explanation for why she was being taken into custody. Garcia noted that immigration officials were attempting to remove her to a third country rather than Nigeria. This approach has gained prominence under the Trump administration, which has significantly expanded a lesser-known strategy of sending migrants to nations where they have no personal connections.

Critics argue this practice outsources detention responsibilities to foreign governments—often those with documented human rights concerns, limited oversight mechanisms, and ambiguous legal protections for deportees. During President Donald Trump’s second term, agreements have been established with more than two dozen countries where deportees are housed in hotels, shelters, and prisons.

Community Support and Future Steps

Ugboaja is scheduled to report to ICE on July 28. Her attorney has urged federal authorities to avoid detaining her again or requiring her to wear an electronic monitoring device. She emphasized that many other immigrants experience comparable circumstances without receiving the same level of public attention her case garnered.

“There are many others in this same situation, people who have been given some form of protection under our laws, who have followed every rule asked of them, and who still live with uncertainty,” Ugboaja said.

Her detention prompted swift mobilization from church leaders, immigrant rights advocates, and Texas lawmakers. Daniel E. Flores, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, characterized Ugboaja as a “well-known source of goodness and hope” within the local community.

Ugboaja belongs to the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy congregation, which maintains its headquarters in Nigeria. In addition to her volunteer work as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, she serves as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System’s McAllen Medical Center. Prior to her church volunteering, she spent ten years working as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas.

Among the lawmakers who publicly criticized the incident were Republican Rep. Monica de la Cruz and Democratic Representatives Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, and Joaquin Castro. USA TODAY has contacted both the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to request their response to the situation.