Texas nun released after ICE arrest in Texas sparked national outrage

A Catholic nun who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers while walking to Sunday Mass in South Texas has been released after intervention from members of Congress, officials said.

Sister Leticia "Letty" Ugboaja was detained June 28 as she walked to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, to attend Mass, according to the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville. Brenda Riojas, a spokesperson for the diocese, confirmed to USA TODAY on July 1 that Ugboaja was released from custody on the evening of June 28.

The incident quickly gained attention across Texas, with parishioners, members of southern Texas' congressional delegation and advocacy organizations expressing concern that a nun dressed in her habit and headed to worship had been taken into custody.

The bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville said he was "grateful" that Ugboaja had been released but noted that significant questions remain about the circumstances surrounding her detention.

"For now, it is clear that Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to Church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed," Bishop Daniel E. Flores said in a statement on June 29.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.

Texas diocese describes nun as a 'well-known source of goodness and hope'

The Diocese of Brownsville said Ugboaja is part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy congregation, which is headquartered in Nigeria. She volunteers as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church and also works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System's McAllen Medical Center.

Before volunteering at the church, Ugboaja worked for a decade as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas, according to the diocese.

In a post on Facebook, Our Lady of Sorrows Church had asked parishioners to pray for the nun following reports of her detention while on her way to Sunday Mass.

"We pray for her safety, peace, and strength during this difficult time, and we hope for a swift and just resolution that allows her to be released soon," the parish said in the June 28 post.

The diocese said it is continuing to gather information regarding both the circumstances that led to Ugboaja's detention and the manner in which she was detained. Church leaders also thanked local representatives for their "quick response" and outreach to the Department of Homeland Security to get Ugboaja released from custody.

McAllen and Edinburg are neighboring cities located in Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The two cities are just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Texas lawmakers help secure nun's release

As news of Ugboaja's detention spread, members of southern Texas' congressional delegation called for the nun's release. Rep. Monica de la Cruz, a Republican, said June 28 that her office was working with the Department of Homeland Security to secure Ugboaja's release as quickly as possible.

"As I have repeatedly said, our immigration enforcement should target violent criminals," de la Cruz said in a post on Facebook. "A Catholic nun on her way to church is not a threat to our community."

Later that day, de la Cruz announced that Ugboaja would be released after discussions with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

"I just got off the phone with Secretary Mullin. I'm pleased to announce that Sister Letty will be coming home," de la Cruz said in a post on Facebook. "My office worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security, and I'm grateful they acted to resolve this quickly."

Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez and Joaquin Castro also criticized Ugboaja's arrest. Cuellar had demanded that Ugboaja be released from custody and said he was in contact with federal officials regarding the nun's arrest.

"After communicating with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Tom Homan, I'm pleased to share that Sister Letty is on her way home," Cuellar said in a June 28 post on X. "The order has been given for her to be released today instead of tomorrow, and she'll be home tonight."

De la Cruz, Cuellar, Gonzalez and Castro have also intervened in other immigration cases that sparked public outrage. In March, both Castro and de la Cruz announced that two teenage brothers - who were part of an award-winning mariachi band - and their parents had been released from ICE custody.

Bipartisan criticism follows nun's detention

While lawmakers and advocacy groups welcomed Ugboaja's release, they questioned why she had been detained in the first place. Castro said the incident reflected broader concerns about immigration enforcement operations.

"Sister Letty was on her way to Sunday mass when ICE detained her," Castro said in a Facebook post on June 29. "It is a relief that she is home. She should never have been locked away to begin with."

In a post on X, Cuellar said he spoke with Ugboaja after her release and expressed gratitude that she was safe. He added that border security efforts should be focused on "real threats to public safety" and said he would continue working to "ensure DHS uses its resources responsibly."

"Sister Letty has served the South Texas community through her faith, her work, and her care for others, and I appreciate her strength during this difficult moment," Cuellar said on June 30.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States, launched a petition calling for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ugboaja's detention.

"Sister Letty's case has received widespread public attention, but so many others never receive the same. If someone as recognizable as a nun on her way to church can be detained despite posing no apparent threat to public safety, what is happening every day to people whose stories never make the news?" the petition states.

"This incident highlights the concerns that advocates, faith leaders, and community organizations have raised for months about unlawful enforcement practices and the lack of oversight," the petition added.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas nun released after ICE arrest in Texas sparked national outrage

Reporting by Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 9:05 PM.