Federal Judge Questions Deportation of US Citizen Child Amid Immigration Policy Scrutiny

A Louisiana federal judge has raised alarm over the possible deportation of a two-year-old US citizen to Honduras, suggesting it occurred without due process during an uptick in immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. The court is set to further investigate these claims to ensure compliance with constitutional rights.

A federal judge has expressed serious concerns regarding the deportation of a two-year-old US citizen, VML, to Honduras, alongside her mother and 11-year-old sister, without adequate legal procedures in place. Judge Terry Doughty highlighted a "strong suspicion" that the child was removed "with no meaningful process" amid the Trump administration's aggressive stance on immigration detentions. The family's apprehension happened during a routine check-in at a New Orleans immigration office on April 22, raising questions about their treatment under current policies.

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the mother reportedly opted to bring her children with her during their deportation. The judge had attempted to establish communication with the mother but learned that she and her daughter had recently been released in Honduras, complicating the case further. Despite VML being a US citizen by birth in Louisiana, uncertainty surrounds the legal status of her mother, father, and sister.

"In adherence to the law, it is both illegal and unconstitutional to deport a US citizen," emphasized Judge Doughty, prompting a hearing scheduled for May 19 aimed at clarifying whether due process was bypassed in this instance. In a related development, a family attorney reported that the father of VML sought temporary custody for his sister-in-law—another US citizen. However, immigration authorities claimed they would not facilitate this action, stating that the father himself risked detention upon attempting to retrieve his child.

This incident echoes concerns raised in a parallel case involving a Cuban mother, Heidy Sánchez, who was apprehended with her one-year-old at a scheduled immigration appointment and subsequently deported, despite her child's pressing medical needs. Advocates argue that non-criminal individuals should be given the opportunity to remain in the country for humanitarian reasons.

The Biden administration's response to Trump's return to office has led to a surge in detentions, despite ongoing challenges met by some of the administration's hardline policies in court. In notable instances, mistakes have been acknowledged, such as the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García, an El Salvador national, whose case illustrates broader issues within the immigration system. The Supreme Court has mandated actions to rectify this, though the Trump administration remains firm in its position against retroactive admissions.