ICE Arrested a Nun on Her Way to Mass. She Spoke Out.
You're walking to Sunday mass in your habit, rosary in hand, thinking about the day's readings — and two armed men stop you on the street. That's what happened to Sister Leticia Ugboaja on June 28, 2026, outside Our Lady of Sorrows church in McAllen, Texas. She had legal protection from deportation. ICE arrested her anyway.
Sister Leticia Ugboaja, 56, is a Catholic nun, a registered nurse, and a Nigerian immigrant who has lived in South Texas for years. An immigration judge ruled in 2019 that she could not be sent back to Nigeria — because she would likely face torture there. That legal protection is called withholding of removal, and it is separate from asylum. Her attorney, Carlos Garcia, says she followed every rule: she checked in with ICE, she worked legally, she complied with everything asked of her.
On June 28, two ICE officers stopped her as she walked to church. She was not told clearly why. Garcia later learned that the government planned to send her not to Nigeria — which is legally blocked — but to a third country. The Trump administration has used third-country removal agreements to bypass standard deportation protections. Human rights groups and immigration lawyers have challenged this policy in court, arguing it strips people of the right to seek protection in the country where they are sent.
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What happened after the arrest
Parish officials posted about Ugboaja's detention on social media. The story spread quickly. Members of Congress intervened. ICE released her several hours after the arrest. On July 23, 2026, she spoke publicly for the first time at a news conference at her church. She said she still lives with fear and uncertainty. She also said she is not staying quiet — because many others with similar legal protections face the same risk. "There are many others in this same situation, people who have been given some form of protection under our laws, who have followed every rule asked of them, and who still live with uncertainty," she said. Ugboaja has a check-in appointment with ICE scheduled for July 28, 2026.
What this means if you have withholding of removal or similar protection
Ugboaja's case shows that having a court-ordered protection from removal does not automatically prevent ICE from detaining you — especially under the current administration's third-country removal policy. If you have withholding of removal, a Convention Against Torture (CAT) grant, or any other form of protection, you still need to know your rights and have a plan if ICE contacts you.
What to do
- Carry proof of your legal status or protection at all times. If you have a withholding of removal order or CAT protection, keep a copy of the immigration court decision with you or easily accessible on your phone.
- Have your attorney's phone number memorized or saved. If ICE stops you, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents before your attorney reviews them.
- Tell someone your ICE check-in schedule. A trusted person — a family member, a church official, a community organization — should know when and where you check in, so they can act quickly if you are detained.
- Contact a local immigration legal aid organization now. Do not wait for a crisis. Organizations in your area may be able to review your case, update your paperwork, and prepare a rapid-response plan if ICE detains you.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Appealing to the BIA”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
A withholding of removal order means an immigration judge found you cannot be safely returned to your home country — but it does not prevent ICE from detaining you or attempting to remove you to a third country under current administration policy. If you hold this type of protection, your attorney should file a motion immediately upon any detention to enforce the court's order and block third-country removal. Anyone with withholding of removal, CAT protection, or a pending immigration court case should consult an immigration attorney before their next ICE check-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is withholding of removal, and how is it different from asylum?
Asylum gives you permanent protection and a path to a green card. Withholding of removal is a narrower protection — an immigration judge orders that you cannot be sent to a specific country because you would likely face persecution or torture there. It does not give you a green card or a path to citizenship, but it does legally block deportation to that country.
Can ICE arrest me even if I have a court order protecting me from deportation?
Yes. ICE can detain you even if you have withholding of removal or another court-granted protection. The current administration has also used third-country removal — sending people to a country other than their home country — to get around these protections. If this happens, your attorney can go to court immediately to enforce the original order.
What are my rights if ICE stops me on the street?
You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You have the right to speak with an attorney before signing anything. If you are detained, say clearly that you want to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents — including voluntary departure forms — without legal advice.
What is third-country removal, and can it affect me?
Third-country removal means the US government sends someone to a country other than their home country — often a country they have no connection to. The Trump administration has used agreements with several countries to do this. Courts have challenged this practice, but it is still being used. If you have a protection order tied to a specific country, talk to an immigration lawyer about whether third-country removal could affect your case.