Nun arrested by ICE as she walked to Mass in Texas is released
Source: Associated Press via NBC News
Nun arrested by ICE as she walked to Mass in Texas is released
Sister Leticia Ugboaja, who is also a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, was walking to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen when she was detained.

Nun arrested by ICE as she walked to mass in Texas is released.
Sister Leticia Ugboaja.via KTLM
June 30, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT / Source: The Associated Press
By The Associated Press
McALLEN, Texas A nun was released from immigration custody after she was arrested walking to Mass in her habit in South Texas.
Sister Leticia Ugboaja was walking to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday when she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. ... The Department of Homeland Security and ICE have not responded to a request for comment since Sunday.
Parish officials posted a message on social media shortly after the arrest that gained traction in the news and led to Congress members including U.S. Rep. Monica de la Cruz intervening on Ugboajas behalf.
The nun is part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and volunteered as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, according to Brenda Riojas, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville. ... Ugboaja is also a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and worked previously for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Riojas confirmed.
Members of Congress representing South Texas intervened with federal officials. As of Monday, Ugboaja was back in her home.
{snip}
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nun-arrested-ice-walked-mass-texas-released-rcna352374
muriel_volestrangler
(106,903 posts)I presume their internal justification for the arrest was "she's not white". But surely they must have had to try harder than that to lock her up?
On edit: Others say released on Monday, so 24+ hours.
Or maybe even very late on Sunday ("expedited from tomorrow to today", posted on Facebook around 8pm Texas time on Sunday), but still. They reckoned they were going to hold a nun overnight. For walking while Black.
PatSeg
(54,107 posts)She was dressed in her habit and they still detained her?
muriel_volestrangler
(106,903 posts)ie going to church. That's meant to be what this regime wants people to do.
republianmushroom
(22,933 posts)The same of it.
chia
(2,862 posts)Wuddles440
(2,176 posts)routinely snacks on cats and dogs, may actually be a "trans", and is a communist.
AverageOldGuy
(4,391 posts). . . under that nuns habit. Guns, too.
multigraincracker
(38,357 posts)sop
(19,934 posts)That's what it took to have this woman released from ICE hell. I guess these congress members were afraid arresting a nun walking to church would create such an uproar in their districts it would harm their re-election chances.
Vinca
(54,559 posts)bluestarone
(22,581 posts)No doubt in my mind!!
sop
(19,934 posts)AverageOldGuy
(4,391 posts). . . Jesus having a passport, obviously an illegal.
Wonder Why
(7,413 posts)said they made a mistake.
I guess I have no Catholic friends, just Catholic neighbors.
Ritabert
(2,839 posts)FakeNoose
(43,104 posts)... and I've never voted R in my life. Neither have any of my Catholic family and friends. We're not the monolithic voting group that some people think. Even though it's true that some Catholics went off the deep end when it comes to abortion.
I hate that fact that (back in the 80's) the Repuke Party used the issue of abortion as a way of snagging Catholic voters, when in fact it's a complete mismatch of political views other than that ONE issue.
moonbeam23
(426 posts)WHAT ABOUT THE BAAABIIES??
Ritabert
(2,839 posts)Sowhat13
(56 posts)The real question is, what happens to all of the folks like this, which Citzens Under
Nazi Tutelage S pick up, and do not have federal officials intervene on their behalf?
Isn't there still a Rule of Law, or have we truly entered into the autocracy where
cases are decided by corruption, and million dollar pardons?
Buddyzbuddy
(3,065 posts)Last edited Tue Jun 30, 2026, 06:39 PM - Edit history (1)
And that's the opinion of an Atheist.
Did they get a double bonus, since we know this Administration has an issue with Catholics.
I'm sure this will help with my Catholic/Chicano brethren in Texas at the polls. FAFO.
SergeStorms
(21,093 posts)They're radicals. Trouble from the word 'go'.
Especially those brown ones.
I didn't think it possible, but I'm convinced ICE "agents" are getting more stupid by the minute.
Bayard
(30,712 posts)Murderer, rapist, or thief--take your pick.
SergeStorms
(21,093 posts)wandering the streets of our U.S. towns. Father rapers, mother rapers, children rapers, household pet rapers. Just where does it end?