A Catholic nun who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while walking to church in South Texas has been released, according to NBC News.
NBC News reported that Sister Leticia Ugboaja was arrested Sunday as she walked in her religious habit to attend Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to NBC News, Ugboaja is a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at the parish. She is also a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and previously worked for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg.
The report said the arrest drew widespread attention after parish officials shared the incident on social media, prompting members of Congress, including U.S. Representative Monica de la Cruz, to contact federal officials on Ugboaja’s behalf.
“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,” said Brenda Riojas, spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville.
The incident comes amid the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement efforts, which have expanded to include locations traditionally considered sensitive, such as houses of worship.
