A Sunday that was supposed to start with quiet prayer at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen instead began with shock. Sister Letty, a nun at the parish, was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody early Sunday while she was on her way to morning Mass. Lawmakers and parishioners say she was released later that night after federal officials were contacted. ICE has not publicly explained why she was detained.
Lawmakers step in as parish sounds the alarm
Church leaders at Our Lady of Sorrows informed parishioners that Sister Letty had been taken into ICE custody before services, and concern spread quickly through the congregation. By Sunday night, U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Monica De La Cruz said the Department of Homeland Security had acted to secure her release, according to WOAI.
What the lawmakers said
Rep. Monica De La Cruz posted that “I’m pleased to announce that Sister Letty will be coming home,” while Rep. Henry Cuellar said his office had communicated with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other federal officials to expedite her release. Local coverage tracked the lawmakers’ social media updates and the quick turnaround in her custody status, reporting on statements from both offices, according to KRGV.
A familiar Rio Grande Valley flashpoint
The detention immediately drew comparisons to earlier high-profile cases in the Rio Grande Valley where highly visible arrests triggered bipartisan pressure, followed by rapid releases. Those episodes have highlighted how public attention can influence federal action. Reporting in March described a McAllen family with teen mariachi musicians who were released after similar public and political pressure, a scenario advocates say is increasingly common, according to The Texas Tribune.
Advocates demand answers
Faith leaders and advocacy groups are now pressing for transparency about why Sister Letty was detained and whether ICE’s enforcement practices need a closer look. Organizations such as LULAC circulated a petition calling for an investigation into the incident, according to LULAC. Local outlets have also noted that journalists who contacted ICE seeking details on the detention did not receive an explanation, leaving open questions about whether this was targeted enforcement or a mistake, KSAT reported.
For now, Sister Letty is reportedly back with her parish while lawmakers say they will keep pressing the Department of Homeland Security for answers. The church and the McAllen community say they are waiting for an official explanation from ICE that could clarify whether this was a deliberate enforcement action or an error that turned a Sunday morning Mass into a political flashpoint.
