Sister Lany Lan, a Catholic nun from the Missionaries of Charity, spoke publicly for the first time regarding her June 2026 detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Lan stated she was walking to morning Mass in El Paso, Texas, when she was approached by agents and taken into custody. Lan, a citizen of Vietnam, was released several hours later after her legal status was verified.
The Missionaries of Charity and legal representatives for Lan stated that she possesses a valid R-1 nonimmigrant religious worker visa. According to her representatives, the incident occurred during an enforcement operation in the area. Lan described being questioned about her identity and documentation before being transported to a processing center.
ICE officials confirmed the detention in a statement, noting that agents were conducting routine enforcement operations when they encountered Lan. The agency stated that she was released once her lawful status in the United States was confirmed. Catholic leaders in El Paso have requested a review of the incident, citing concerns regarding the detention of individuals with valid visas. Domestic immigration policy generally allows ICE agents to question individuals regarding their right to be in the United States if there is reasonable suspicion of a violation.