Legal immigration declines in President Trump’s first year in office
Cuts in refugee admissions, humanitarian programs, and temporary visas have reduced legal immigration by hundreds of thousands of people.
A Catholic nun who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as she walked to Sunday Mass in South Texas has been released after intervention from members of Congress, officials said.
Sister Leticia “Leti” Ugboaja was arrested June 28 as she walked to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, to attend mass, according to the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville. Diocese spokeswoman Brenda Riojas confirmed to USA TODAY on July 1 that Ugboaja was released from custody on the night of June 28.
The incident quickly attracted attention across Texas, with parishioners, members of South Texas’s congressional delegation and advocacy groups expressing concern that the nun had been detained as she went to worship in casual clothes.
The bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville said he was “grateful” that Ugboaja was released, but noted that serious questions remain about the circumstances surrounding her detention.
“Right now, it is clear that the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement protocols that allow religious sisters and others who are peacefully walking to church on Sunday mornings to be detained and handcuffed are deeply troubling and need to be reformed,” Bishop Daniel E. Flores said in a June 29 statement.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
Diocese of Texas describes nuns as ‘well-known sources of goodness and hope’
The Diocese of Brownsville said Ugboaja is a member of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy congregation, headquartered in Nigeria. She volunteers as an interim minister of communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church and also works as a registered nurse at the South Texas Health System’s McAllen Medical Center.
Before volunteering at the church, Ugboaja worked for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas, the diocese said.
In a Facebook post, Our Lady of Sorrows Church called on parishioners to pray for the nun after reports that she was detained on her way to Sunday Mass.
“We pray for her safety, peace and strength during this difficult time and hope for a swift and fair resolution that will result in her immediate release,” the diocese said in a June 28 post.
The diocese said it was continuing to gather information regarding both the circumstances that led to Ugboaja’s detention and the manner in which he was detained. Church leaders also thanked local representatives for their “quick action” and lobbying the Department of Homeland Security for Ugboaja’s release.
McAllen and Edinburg are neighboring cities located in Hidalgo County in South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. These two cities are located just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas lawmakers help secure nun’s release
As news of Ugboaja’s detention spread, members of South Texas’s congressional delegation called for the nun’s release. Republican Rep. Monica de la Cruz said on June 28 that her office is working with the Department of Homeland Security to secure Ugboaja’s early release.
“As I have said repeatedly, immigration authorities should target violent criminals,” Delacruz said in a Facebook post. “Catholic nuns heading to church are not a threat to our community.”
Later that day, Mr. Delacruz announced that Mr. Ugboaja would be released after consultation with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Marin.
“I just got off the phone with Secretary Marin and am happy to announce that Sister Letty will be returning home,” Dela Cruz said in a Facebook post. “My office is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and I appreciate their actions to quickly resolve this matter.”
Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vicente González and Joaquín Castro also criticized Ugboaja’s arrest. Cueyar has requested Ugboaja’s release from custody and said he is in contact with federal authorities regarding the nun’s arrest.
“I have been in contact with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Tom Homan and am happy to share that Sister Letty is on her way home,” Cuellar said in a June 28 post on X. “She has been ordered to be released today instead of tomorrow and is expected to go home tonight.”
Dela Cruz, Cuellar, Gonzalez and Castro have intervened in other immigration cases that have sparked public outrage. Mr. Castro and Mr. Dela Cruz announced in March that two teenage brothers and their parents, who were part of an award-winning mariachi band, had been released from ICE custody.
Bipartisan criticism continues after nun’s detention
Lawmakers and advocacy groups welcomed Ugboaja’s release but questioned why she was detained in the first place. Castro said the incident reflected broader concerns about immigration enforcement.
“Sister Letty was on her way to Sunday Mass when ICE took her into custody. She was relieved to be home. She should never have been locked up in the first place,” Castro said in a June 29 Facebook post.
In a post on X, Kueyar said he spoke with Ugboaja after her release and expressed gratitude that she was safe. He added that border security efforts must focus on “real threats to public safety” and said he will continue to work “to ensure that DHS uses its resources responsibly.”
“Sister Letty serves the South Texas community through her faith, work, and care for others, and we are grateful for her strength during this difficult time,” Cuellar said June 30.
The League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States, has launched a petition calling for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ugboaja’s detention.
“While Sister Letty’s case has received widespread public attention, many others have not received the same attention. If someone as recognizable as a nun on her way to church is detained even though she poses no clear threat to public safety, what happens every day to people whose stories never make the news?” the petition states.
“This incident highlights concerns that advocates, faith leaders, and community groups have been raising for months about illegal enforcement practices and a lack of oversight,” the petition added.
