Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a Nigerian nun, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 28 while walking to Mass in McAllen, Texas. She was released hours later after parish officials and Congress members intervened on her behalf.
Ugboaja, a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, has been granted protection from removal due to the risk of torture in Nigeria, though her asylum application was denied in 2019. Her attorney, Carlos Garcia, stated she has complied with all legal requirements and had permission to work in the U.S. ICE did not provide a clear explanation for her detention but indicated plans to remove her to a third country.
Ugboaja spoke at a news conference, emphasizing the uncertainty faced by others in similar situations. Lawyers and human rights groups have criticized the Trump administration's third-country removal policy, which has faced legal challenges. Ugboaja has an upcoming ICE check-in scheduled for next week.