A Texas Nun Was Detained by ICE on Her Walk to Mass. Her Whole Community Rose to Bring Her Home

Sister Leticia Ugboaja is the kind of neighbor every community hopes to have. A member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, she also works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, spending her days caring for the sick. On Sunday, she set out on foot for Our Lady of Sorrows Church, the same parish where local families have brought their children for baptisms and First Communions for generations. She never made it. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped and detained her on the way.

For hours, her parish — and the public — were left without answers. Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security offered any explanation for why she had been taken. 

A community that answered with prayer

When news spread, Our Lady of Sorrows did what countless families do in a frightening hour: it turned to prayer and to one another. The parish posted a simple appeal to its congregation on Facebook: "We ask our parish family to please keep this religious sister Letty in your prayers. Reports indicate that she was detained by ICE while on her way to Sunday Mass." 

Leaders from both sides of the aisle worked together for her safe return. Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez named the human cost plainly. "This is just another effect of this Administration's hyperaggressive immigration policies in our communities," he said. "They have now led to the targeting of nuns on their way to Sunday Mass. It's a far cry of the criminals they said they would detain and deport. I'm in touch with church officials and closely monitoring this situation. I urge for Sister Letty's immediate release."

He was not alone. Republican Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz worked directly with the Department of Homeland Security on Sister Letty's behalf. Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar reached out personally to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and border official Tom Homan. 

Home by nightfall

The prayers offered throughout that long Sunday were answered before the day was out. By evening, Congressman Cuellar brought word back to the parish: "After communicating with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Tom Homan, I'm pleased to share that Sister Letty is on her way home." She made it home safely that night, back among the parish family that had spent the day lifting her up.

ICE has still not provided details on why she was detained. 

Immigration enforcement has reached the church door. As federal agents expand operations to sensitive places once treated as off-limits — including houses of worship — congregants are growing too afraid to attend. Faith leaders are trying to adapt. Some are moving services online. Others are stepping in with hands-on help, running errands and doing grocery shopping for members too fearful to leave home.