Nun Detained by ICE Speaks Out After Mass Arrest

Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a nun who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 28, spoke out for the first time on Thursday about her experience. She described feeling a cold sweat as armed officers approached her while she was walking to Sunday Mass near the U.S.-Mexico border, carrying only her rosary and cellphone. Ugboaja, 56, stated that she did not understand what was happening at the moment of her arrest. Her attorney confirmed that she has previously been granted protection from removal to her native Nigeria due to the risk of torture there. She was released several hours after her detention, following attention brought by parish officials on social media and intervention from members of Congress. Ugboaja, who has a check-in appointment with ICE scheduled for Tuesday, expressed her desire to speak out to assist others and advocated for individuals to have an opportunity to be heard before being taken into custody. She highlighted the uncertainty faced by many others in similar situations, who have followed legal protections but still live with precariousness. Her attorney, Carlos M. Garcia, was present at the news conference and provided details regarding her immigration case, noting that an immigration judge denied her asylum application in 2019 but granted her protection from removal. The incident occurs amidst a period of heightened immigration enforcement, with former President Donald Trump having made mass deportations a significant promise during his previous administration. Ugboaja emphasized that while grateful for the assistance she received, she cannot remain silent about her experience or the ongoing struggles of others.