In McAllen, Texas, Sister Leticia Ugboaja recounted a harrowing experience when she walked to Sunday Mass last month. As she made her way with only her rosary and cellphone, two armed men approached her. “Honestly, in that moment, I did not understand what was going on,” she said at a news conference held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church.
Ugboaja, a nun, had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on June 28. Her arrest drew immediate attention thanks to a social media post by parish officials. This ultimately led to intervention by members of Congress. Since 2019, Ugboaja has had protection from removal to Nigeria, where she fears torture.
Despite these protections, she was held for several hours before being released near the U.S.-Mexico border. She expressed gratitude to those who supported her, but also voiced her concern for others facing similar situations. “There are many others in this same situation,” she noted, urging for fair hearings before detention.
Carlos M. Garcia, Ugboaja’s attorney, explained her legal situation. Though her asylum application was denied, she was granted protection from removal. Ugboaja has complied with all requirements, including having permission to work as a nurse in the U.S. However, she was nearly removed to a third country under a policy criticized by legal and human rights groups.
The third-country removal policy, introduced under the Trump administration, aims to manage backlogs in immigration courts by redirecting asylum seekers to other countries. The Department of Homeland Security claims these agreements help alleviate court backlogs, but they have faced legal challenges and criticism.
DHS and ICE did not comment on Ugboaja’s case. Ugboaja, part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. A registered nurse, Ugboaja works at South Texas Health System and previously served as a certified nursing assistant for a decade.
Recollecting the day of her detention, Ugboaja said she pleaded with officers to allow her to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, but was denied. “For me, a nun, not to go to Mass on Sunday, not to receive Communion, it was very heartbreaking for me,” she shared.