Sister Leticia Ugboaja Can Remain in the US, Bishop Says
Sister Leticia Ugboaja will be allowed to remain in the United States while her immigration case continues, according to a statement from her bishop. Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, described himself as “grateful to God” for this development in a statement issued July 29. He cautioned, however, that the broader outcome of her case, including the risk of deportation to a third country, remains an open question.
Who Is Sister Leticia Ugboaja
Sister Leticia Ugboaja, also known as Sister Letty, belongs to the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, a religious congregation founded in Nigeria. A registered nurse, she has served the McAllen, Texas, community for more than a decade, offering both pastoral support and hands-on healthcare work. Her long-standing presence in the region made her sudden detention especially shocking to parishioners who knew her well.
Sister Leticia Ugboaja’s Detention on the Way to Mass
Immigration authorities detained Sister Leticia on June 28 while she was traveling to Mass, according to Bishop Flores’s statement. The detention connected to an attempt to remove her not to Nigeria, her country of origin, but to an unspecified third country instead. Legal representatives have described this third-country removal pathway as separate from the protections already granted in her case, and it remains the subject of active litigation in federal courts nationwide.
A Complicated Legal Status
Although a judge’s earlier ruling legally bars US authorities from deporting Sister Leticia to Nigeria, she technically remains under a final order of removal, according to her legal representation. She continues to hold a valid employment authorization document and has met every required appointment with immigration officials throughout her case. Court records also show that her original asylum request was denied only after documented kidnappings of Catholic women religious occurred in Nigeria in 2017 and 2018, a pattern of violence that shaped her original argument for protection.
Bishop Flores Responds With Relief and Caution
In his July 29 statement, Bishop Flores expressed some relief that Sister Leticia would be permitted to remain within the Brownsville community while her case continues moving forward. He was careful, though, not to describe her situation as fully resolved, noting instead that significant uncertainty still surrounds her long-term status. His measured tone reflected the broader complexity of a case that involves multiple overlapping legal protections and ongoing federal litigation.
A Wider Call for Justice and Mercy
Bishop Flores used his statement to address more than just Sister Leticia’s individual case. He urged prayer and accompaniment for the many individuals and families living in fear and anxiety as they attempt to resolve their own immigration status. He specifically highlighted how the prospect of third-country deportation frightens people who, like Sister Leticia, violated no laws and previously received permission to remain due to dangerous conditions in their home countries. Flores called for a national consensus that defends the common good, protects the vulnerable, and treats every person under immigration review with humanity, closing his statement with a prayer that God would guide the country toward a society reflecting both justice and mercy.
Why This Case Continues to Draw Attention
Sister Leticia Ugboaja’s situation has become a focal point for wider concerns about how religious workers and other vulnerable immigrants are treated under current enforcement practices. Because her legal protections and the newer third-country removal effort now sit in tension with one another, her case illustrates a broader pattern playing out in federal courts across the country. For continuing coverage of the case, see OSV News’s full report.
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