safety
Catholic bishop seeks information on “wildly disturbing” ICE arrest of nun walking to South Texas church
By Texas Tribune, Alex Nguyen at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 30, 2026
· 4 min read
The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville is working to gather information on Sunday’s arrest of a nun as she was walking to church in McAllen, calling circumstances behind the actions by federal immigration agents “wildly disturbing.”U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained Sister L...
Key takeaway Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained Sister Leticia “Letty” Ugboaja, a 56-year-old nun from Nigeria, and released her later Sunday after South Texas members of Congress intervened.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The arrest of Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a nun walking to church in McAllen, has significant implications for the Pearland community, particularly in regards to the treatment of religious figures and the protocols surrounding immigration enforcement. As a city within the Houston area, Pearland is home to a diverse population, including many individuals who may be affected by similar enforcement actions. The fact that Sister Ugboaja, a registered nurse and member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, was detained and handcuffed while walking to church raises concerns about the potential for overreach by federal immigration agents in Brazoria County. The intervention of South Texas members of Congress in this case highlights the need for local leaders to be vigilant in ensuring that the rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, are protected. The Pearland community will be watching to see how this incident is investigated and what reforms may be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville is working to gather information on Sunday’s arrest of a nun as she was walking to church in McAllen, calling circumstances behind the actions by federal immigration agents “wildly disturbing.”U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained Sister L...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Texas Tribune, Alex Nguyen at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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