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A Roman Catholic nun has been released from the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after her detention while walking to church in south Texas sparked bipartisan backlash and congressional intervention.

Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a registered nurse, was detained by ICE officers while walking to Our Lady of Sorrows church in McAllen, Texas, just a few miles from the US-Mexico border, on Sunday, the church said in a statement on social media, as reported by The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the incident has focused on the circumstances of the arrest and the swift release that followed. The Guardian's report, framed as the arrest of a nun while walking to mass, emphasizes the church's account and the lack of an immediate response from federal agencies. The Jerusalem Post, on the other hand, uses more critical language, referring to "backlash" against ICE and describing the detention as part of a broader "crackdown" on immigration under President Donald Trump's second term.

Both outlets report that Ugboaja was released from detention hours later after lawmakers from both parties intervened. The Guardian identifies US House member Monica de la Cruz, a south Texas Republican, as one of those who intervened, while the Jerusalem Post notes that lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties took action. The Jerusalem Post also reports that the church posted online asking for help following Ugboaja's detention.

Key Claims

  • Sister Leticia Ugboaja was detained by ICE while walking to Sunday Mass in McAllen, Texas, and was released from detention hours later after lawmakers intervened, as reported by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Ugboaja is a registered nurse with the South Texas Health System and previously worked for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Texas, according to Brenda Riojas, a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Texas.
  • The church posted online asking for help following Ugboaja's detention, according to the Jerusalem Post, which quotes a Facebook statement from Our Lady of Sorrows Church.
  • The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have not responded to a request for comment since Sunday, as reported by The Guardian.
  • The Trump administration has carried out an immigration crackdown, including at sensitive sites such as houses of worship, which has prompted faith leaders to adjust their response to church members, as reported by The Guardian.

Perspectives

Church officials

The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville expressed gratitude for the intervention, with spokesperson Brenda Riojas stating, "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." The church also asked parishioners to keep Sister Leticia in their prayers, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Lawmakers

US House member Monica de la Cruz and other US House members from south Texas intervened with federal officials, leading to Ugboaja's release, as reported by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post notes that lawmakers from both parties were involved in the intervention.

Federal agencies

The US Department of Homeland Security and ICE have not responded to requests for comment on the detention, as reported by The Guardian.