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Recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have led to the deportation of two mothers, raising significant concerns about immigration processes and the treatment of families. One case involved a Cuban mother who was separated from her one-year-old daughter, while another involved a Honduran mother and her two-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen.
These cases spotlight the ongoing debate concerning the timing and legality of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which many argue are infringing upon fundamental rights. Legal representatives for the families described troubling scenarios where their clients were taken into custody during regular check-ins at ICE offices, often without the chance to consult with legal counsel or contact family members before their swift deportation.
A federal judge in Louisiana has expressed skepticism regarding the deportation of the two-year-old girl, pointing out deficiencies in the government’s justification for the action. In light of these concerns, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty has scheduled a hearing to investigate whether the deportation of a U.S. citizen was conducted appropriately.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Immigration Project, among other advocacy groups, have criticized these deportations as a worrying abuse of power that is becoming alarmingly frequent. They argue that such actions undermine the legal protections afforded to U.S. citizens, especially children.
In the case of the Honduran mother, she, along with her children, was apprehended during a check-in at an ICE facility. The family resided in Baton Rouge, and it appears both the mother and her 11-year-old daughter had existing deportation orders. Shortly after their arrest, the mother was placed on a deportation flight along with her child.
During a recent hearing, Judge Doughty intervened to question government attorneys while the mother was in transit on a deportation flight, only to learn that she had already been deported by the time he sought clarification. Legal representatives for the father of the two-year-old girl asserted that custody arrangements were in place for the child to remain in the U.S., yet ICE claimed the mother indicated she wished to have her daughter deported alongside her, a statement that remains disputed in court.
In a parallel incident in Florida, Heidy Sánchez, a Cuban mother and the wife of a U.S. citizen, was detained during a routine check-in in Tampa. Her attorney detailed that Sánchez was quickly deported to Cuba after being denied any opportunity for communication. Compounding the situation, Sánchez is a breastfeeding mother to a daughter who suffers from medical issues, raising additional humanitarian concerns.
Her attorney attempted to contest the deportation but was reportedly prevented by ICE, which asserted that Sánchez had already been expelled. With her case pending, her attorney argued that a humanitarian basis for her ability to stay in the U.S. was strong, yet ICE’s practices seemingly prioritize meeting deportation quotas over evaluating individual circumstances.
Sánchez had previously faced an outstanding deportation order due to a missed hearing in 2019, which led to a nine-month detention before her release in 2020. She was required to regularly check in with ICE, but her precarious legal situation has now resulted in her being sent back to Cuba, where her chances of returning to the U.S. remain uncertain.
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globalnews.ca