Judge Terry Doughty has expressed strong concerns that a two-year-old US citizen may have been deported to Honduras without due process as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. This raises questions about the legality surrounding such actions, especially for American citizens.
Court Questions Deportation of US Citizen Toddler Amid Trump's Immigration Policies
Court Questions Deportation of US Citizen Toddler Amid Trump's Immigration Policies
A federal judge raises concerns about the possible deportation of a two-year-old US citizen alongside her family without adequate legal process during heightened immigration enforcement.
A federal judge has expressed grave concerns regarding the deportation of a two-year-old US citizen whose family was sent back to Honduras amidst the Trump administration's intensified immigration efforts. Judge Terry Doughty indicated there is a "strong suspicion" that the child, referred to as VML, was deported without "meaningful process." This revelation emerged from court documents following the family's apprehension during a routine immigration appointment in New Orleans on April 22.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that the mother made the decision to take her children back to Honduras with her when she was removed. Notably, there remains ambiguity regarding the immigration status of the girl's mother, father, and sister, although VML is recognized as a US citizen. The judge emphasized the illegality of detaining or deporting a US citizen, stating, “It is illegal and unconstitutional.”
In light of the situation, a hearing has been scheduled for May 19 to address the concerns that the government might have deported an American citizen without due legal process. Tricia McLaughlin from DHS remarked on the commonality of such decisions among detained parents wishing to stay with their children during deportation.
Complicating matters, VML's father has attempted to secure temporary custody of VML through family law, during which an ICE agent reportedly refused the request, warning that he would be taken into custody if he attempted to pick up his daughter.
The case draws parallels to another incident in Florida involving a Cuban mother and her US citizen husband, who were also detained and deported shortly after their appointment. Reports state the woman, Heidy Sánchez, was breastfeeding her daughter, who suffers from health complications, leading her lawyer to argue for the need for humane treatment.
As thousands of undocumented immigrants face heightened detentions since Donald Trump's return to office, the administration's immigration policies are increasingly under scrutiny and facing legal challenges. In the most notable case, an error resulted in the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García, a man linked to the MS-13 gang, which he and his family deny. Despite a Supreme Court ruling favoring his return to the US, the Trump administration has declared he will never be allowed back.
