A Catholic nun serving both the Church and her local community has been released from federal immigration custody after being detained while walking to Sunday Mass in South Texas.
According to NBC News, Sister Leticia Ugboaja was on her way to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, on Sunday when officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped and detained her. The parish is located just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Sister Leticia is a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, according to Brenda Riojas, spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville. In addition to her ministry, Riojas said Sister Leticia works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and previously spent 10 years serving as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg.
News of the arrest quickly spread after officials from Our Lady of Sorrows Church shared the incident on social media. According to NBC News, the post gained widespread attention and prompted several elected officials, including U.S. Representative Monica de la Cruz, to contact federal authorities on Sister Leticia’s behalf.
The Diocese of Brownsville later confirmed that she had been released and returned home.
“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, according to NBC News.
As of the time of NBC News’ reporting, neither the Department of Homeland Security nor ICE had responded to requests for comment regarding the detention.
The incident comes amid ongoing immigration enforcement efforts across the United States. According to NBC News, recent immigration policies have included enforcement actions at locations traditionally considered sensitive, including houses of worship. Those developments have led some Catholic and other faith leaders to adapt their pastoral outreach by encouraging online participation in Mass or assisting parishioners with essential errands if they are afraid to leave their homes.
For many Catholics, the image of a religious sister in her habit being detained while on her way to celebrate the Eucharist has prompted renewed discussion about immigration enforcement, religious freedom, and the Church’s ministry to immigrant communities along the nation’s southern border.
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