Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a Nigerian Catholic nun and nurse living in South Texas, was told during an immigration check-in on July 28 that deportation to a third country remains a possibility. The update came at a meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Harlingen, Texas. Ugboaja’s attorney, Carlos M. Garcia, told reporters outside the office that the prospect is “very concerning for us… Obviously, that’s not what we want.
That’s why we’re exploring all our legal options.” Garcia said they have not yet decided which specific legal path to pursue.Ugboaja was briefly detained by ICE agents on June 28 while walking to Mass at a church where she serves as a Eucharistic minister. Her case has drawn national attention. Legal background of the caseAt a July 23 press conference, Garcia explained that an immigration judge rejected Ugboaja’s asylum application in 2019. However, the judge granted her protection against deportation to Nigeria under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, finding she would likely be tortured if returned there. That protection legally prevents the U.S. government from deporting her to Nigeria, but she remains subject to a final deportation order and could be sent to a third country.
Ugboaja, a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and a registered nurse with South Texas Health System, has lived in the United States for nearly two decades and has never missed an immigration appointment. Check-in outcome and community support Following the July 28 hearing, Garcia expressed relief that Ugboaja was neither detained nor required to wear an ankle monitor, two possibilities discussed the previous week.
She was allowed to continue living under the same conditions, “basically consisting of being released on her own recognizance.” Her next immigration hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2027.“We are happy that she can continue living as she has done until now, leading a life of service to the community and her church family,” Garcia said.Ugboaja declined to speak to reporters after the appointment. She has previously described weeks of “stress, anxiety and fear” since her arrest, but said she has put her trust in God, quoting Jesus: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you always.”Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said the process has been very difficult for Ugboaja. “She goes to Mass every day, and receiving the Eucharist is a fundamental part of her strength and inner power, but this disruption to her life has frightened her greatly.”Pimentel noted that when Ugboaja was released the same day she was detained in June, “she simply burst into tears.”
Before the July 28 check-in, Father Isaac E. Erondu led supporters in prayer outside the ICE office, and afterward the group prayed the Rosary while waiting for news.“She’s trying to be strong,” Pimentel said. “Seeing the support, the affection, and so many people who are here for her, she knows she’s not alone.”Pimentel also urged broader support for migrants. “We must raise our voices and demand… a process that is more respectful of human life and the goodness of people. There are so many people in the community who truly contribute in a positive and good way. This shouldn’t be happening.”