A Catholic nun who was stopped by federal immigration agents while walking to Sunday Mass in her religious habit has been freed from custody, according to officials with the Diocese of Brownsville.
Sister Leticia Ugboaja was on her way to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas — located just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border — when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained her. She was dressed in her habit at the time of the arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of reporting.
Church officials quickly posted about the arrest on social media, and the story spread widely, drawing attention from members of Congress. U.S. Rep. Monica de la Cruz was among the congressional representatives who stepped in to advocate for Ugboaja’s release.
According to Brenda Riojas, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville, Sister Ugboaja belongs to the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy religious order and had been serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Riojas also confirmed that Ugboaja works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and previously spent 10 years as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg.
By Monday, Ugboaja had returned home after South Texas congressional members reached out to federal authorities on her behalf.
“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,” Riojas said in a statement.
The incident comes amid a broader immigration enforcement push under President Donald Trump, which has included operations at sensitive locations such as houses of worship. The crackdown has caused concern among faith communities nationwide, with some church leaders encouraging members to attend services online and offering to help with everyday tasks like grocery shopping for those too fearful to leave their homes.
