Sister Leticia Ugboaja, the Roman Catholic nun who was taken into immigration custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while walking to Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, on June 28, spoke publicly Thursday to call for immigrants with legal protections to be given a chance to be heard before they are taken into custody.

Parish officials posted about her arrest on social media, drawing attention to the detention, and members of Congress intervened, securing her release later that day.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, she said she decided to speak out to help others facing the same uncertainty she experienced.

“There are many others in this same situation, people who have been given some form of protection under our laws, who have followed every rule asked of them, and who still live with uncertainty,” Ugboaja said.