A United States-based Nigerian Catholic nun, Sister Leticia Ugboaja, has been released after she was detained by officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while walking to church in Texas, an incident that has sparked widespread public reaction.
The 56-year-old nun, a member of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy, was reportedly arrested while heading to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church near the U.S.-Mexico border to attend Mass.
According to a report by The Guardian (UK), the incident attracted public attention and prompted intervention from members of the United States Congress, leading to her release later the same day.
Church officials said Sister Ugboaja serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.
A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Brenda Riojas, also confirmed that the Nigerian nun works as a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and previously spent a decade as a certified nursing assistant at DHR Health in Edinburg, Texas.
Riojas expressed appreciation to lawmakers who intervened in the matter.
“We are grateful for the quick response of local representatives who reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to secure her release,” she said.
The intervention was reportedly led by Representative Monica De La Cruz and other elected officials from South Texas.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the U.S. Department of Homeland Security nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement had publicly explained the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
The incident has since generated mixed reactions on social media.
While some commentators defended the immigration officers’ authority to question and detain individuals regardless of their religious status, others criticised the arrest as excessive and unnecessary.
One social media user, Shara Trierweiler, claimed that Sister Ugboaja is a lawful permanent resident who had left her identification documents at home because she was walking only a short distance to church. According to the post, she was detained for about nine hours before being released following the intervention of public officials.
Others described the arrest as an instance of racial profiling, while some argued that immigration officers should be allowed to verify the identity of anyone they consider suspicious, irrespective of occupation or religious affiliation.
The incident has further renewed debate over the immigration enforcement policies of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which have continued to attract criticism from immigration advocates and civil rights groups.
