ICE frees Nigerian nun arrested on way to church in Texas

A Nigerian Catholic nun, Sister Leticia Ugboaja, has been released from the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after she was arrested while walking to church in McAllen, Texas.

Ugboaja, 56, is a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and was detained on Sunday while heading to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church to attend Mass.

According to a statement issued by the church, the nun was arrested by ICE officers a few miles from the US-Mexico border, sparking concern among parishioners and attracting widespread public attention.

Church officials disclosed that Ugboaja serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.

The spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Brenda Riojas, also confirmed that the Nigerian nun works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and previously spent a decade as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas.

Following intervention by several lawmakers, including South Texas Representative Monica De La Cruz, Ugboaja was released from custody later the same day.

Riojas expressed appreciation for the swift response of the lawmakers, saying their engagement with the Department of Homeland Security helped secure the nun’s release.

“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,” she said.

As of the time of her release, neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security had publicly explained the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

The incident comes amid heightened immigration enforcement in the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, with authorities expanding operations to locations traditionally considered sensitive, including places of worship.

The renewed crackdown has prompted some churches to encourage virtual worship and provide additional support for immigrant members who fear leaving their homes.