Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a Catholic nun originally from Nigeria, has broken her silence following her release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. She recounted the distressing experience of her detention on her way to Sunday Mass in Texas.
During a press conference at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen, Texas, Ugboaja detailed her arrest on June 28 as she walked to church in her religious attire. Carrying only a rosary and a mobile phone, she was approached by ICE officers.
Recalling the incident, the 56-year-old nun expressed her confusion and fear, highlighting the anguish of being barred from participating in Sunday Mass and receiving Holy Communion. “It was an extremely heartbreaking experience,” she stated.
Ugboaja decided to go public not just to share her story but also to advocate for others impacted by immigration enforcement. She urged authorities to allow individuals the chance to present their circumstances before being detained.
“I’m simply asking for a chance for them to be heard,” she said.
Her legal team noted that Ugboaja has lived in the U.S. for several years, previously receiving protection from deportation due to fears of torture if she returned to Nigeria. The arrest drew national attention after church officials highlighted the case, leading to intervention from U.S. Congress members, and she was released later that same day.
Despite regaining her freedom, Ugboaja’s immigration status remains unresolved, leaving her future in the U.S. uncertain. Her attorneys worry she might face further detention or deportation proceedings.
This incident has sparked renewed debate on U.S. immigration policies and the treatment of vulnerable individuals, including religious workers. Immigration advocates and church leaders are calling for increased compassion and due process in enforcement actions, while Ugboaja hopes her experience will inspire reforms that uphold the dignity and rights of others in similar situations.
