Religious Sister Detained by ICE While Heading to Mass
On June 28, Sister Leticia Ugboaja was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents for several hours while en route to Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas.
Details of Her Release Following Congressional Intervention
According to a local news agency in the Rio Grande Valley, Sister Leticia was released shortly after her detention, thanks to the intervention of several members of Congress.
Background on Sister Leticia and Her Work
Affectionately known as Sister Leti, she is a member of the Daughters of Mary, Virgin of Mercy, a congregation founded in Nigeria. In addition to her religious duties, Sister Letitia serves as a registered nurse at a medical center affiliated with the South Texas Health System in McAllen. Prior to this role, she dedicated ten years to working as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas.
Incident Occurs Just Before Mass
Sister Letitia was apprehended as she walked to the church, where she volunteers as a special minister of Holy Communion. According to a fellow McAllen resident who spoke with her post-release, she was detained shortly after leaving her residence near the church, targeted due to her religious attire.
Congressional Response to Her Detention
Monica de la Cruz, the Republican representative for Texas’ 15th Congressional District, took to social media to express her commitment to investigating the circumstances surrounding Sister Letitia’s detention. She stated, “I will take this matter to the highest level and provide updates as they become available.” Later that day, she confirmed that she had spoken with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Mark Wayne Mullin, and announced that Sister Letitia would soon be returning home.
Community Support and Official Statements
Following the incident, Delacruz expressed gratitude for the swift response from local representatives, stating, “My office worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security, and I appreciate their cooperation in resolving this matter quickly.” Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, which reported the detention on Facebook, expressed their wishes for Sister Letitia’s safety and a fair resolution.
Concerns Over Immigration Enforcement Policies
In a June 29 statement, the Diocese of Brownsville thanked the community for its overwhelming support for Sister Letitia and praised the efforts of local representatives in securing her release. Bishop Daniel E. Flores commented on Sister Letitia’s role as a beacon of hope in the community and emphasized the troubling nature of the immigration policies that allowed for her detention. He called for reform, stating that peaceful individuals should not be subject to such actions merely for walking to church on a Sunday.
Similarly, Texas Representative Vicente Gonzalez voiced his concerns, stating, “Nuns heading to Sunday Mass should not be targeted; they are not the criminals we intend to detain.” Delacruz reiterated the need for immigration enforcement to focus on actual threats to the community, underscoring that Catholic nuns are far from being one.
OSV News is currently awaiting a response from ICE regarding a detailed list of questions concerning Sister Letitia’s arrest.
