NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge has raised serious concerns regarding the deportation of a two-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras alongside her mother and sister, asserting that the action may not have adhered to due process. Judge Terry Doughty expressed “strong suspicion” that the child, identified only by the initials VML, was deported without “meaningful process” during the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to expedite deportations.
Court documents indicate that the child and her family were taken into custody during a scheduled appointment at an immigration office on April 22. A representative from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the mother intended to take her children with her when she was removed from the United States. Judge Doughty attempted to connect with the child’s mother but was informed by a government attorney that such a call was not feasible since both mother and daughter had already been sent back to Honduras.
The immigration status of VML’s mother, father, and sister remains uncertain. However, as a U.S. citizen, VML’s deportation brings into question legal and constitutional boundaries surrounding the treatment of American citizens. “It is illegal and unconstitutional to deport, detain for deportation, or recommend deportation of a U.S. citizen,” Judge Doughty emphasized in court.
A hearing has been slated for May 19 to further investigate the circumstances of this case, as the judge seeks to clarify what transpired during the family’s deportation. In response to inquiries, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, stated that parental decisions often involve moving children during deportations. “It is common that parents want to be removed with their children,” she added.
The incident involving VML is not isolated. Similar events have surfaced, including a case in Florida where a Cuban woman, Heidy Sánchez, who is the mother of a one-year-old and married to a U.S. citizen, faced deportation after being detained at an immigration appointment. Her lawyer noted that Sanchez was still breastfeeding and that her child suffers from medical issues, raising humanitarian concerns over her immediate family ties in the U.S.
The rise in arrests of undocumented immigrants has become a hallmark of the Trump administration’s policies since he resumed office on January 20. These aggressive immigration measures have faced numerous legal challenges. In a notable case, the government acknowledged it wrongfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national accused of gang affiliation, although his family and legal team deny such claims. The Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in favor of García’s return to the U.S. contrasts sharply with the administration’s stance that he would “never” be allowed back.
As the legal intricacies surrounding these deportations unfold, concerns over due process and the treatment of U.S. citizens within the immigration system continue to emerge, highlighting the broader implications of current policies on vulnerable families.