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A federal judge has raised concerns that a two-year-old U.S. citizen may have been deported to Honduras alongside her mother and 11-year-old sister without receiving proper legal procedures. This incident has drawn attention within the context of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts.
In a legal filing, Judge Terry Doughty expressed a “strong suspicion” that the child, referred to as VML, was removed from the U.S. “with no meaningful process.”
The family, born in Louisiana, was detained during a routine appointment at an immigration office in New Orleans on April 22, as indicated in the documents submitted to court.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that the mother chose to take her children with her during her deportation to Honduras.
The judge attempted to arrange a phone call with the child’s mother; however, a government attorney informed him that this would not be feasible as both she and VML had just been released in Honduras, according to court records.
The immigration status of VML’s mother, father, and sister is still unclear, but it is confirmed that the two-year-old is a U.S. citizen.
Judge Doughty emphasized, “It is illegal and unconstitutional to deport, detain for deportation, or recommend deportation of a U.S. citizen.”
A hearing is set for May 19 to address suspicions regarding the potential unlawful deportation of a U.S. citizen.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security commented that “the parent made the decision to take the child with them to Honduras,” adding that it is common for parents to wish to remain with their children during deportation processes.
Additionally, the girl’s father has sought temporary legal authority for custody to be transferred to his sister-in-law, who is also a U.S. citizen. However, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent informed the family attorney that their request would not be honored, indicating the father would also face detention if he attempted to retrieve his daughter.
In a related case in Florida, a Cuban woman, along with her one-year-old child and U.S. citizen husband, was also detained during an immigration appointment and deported back to Cuba just two days later. This woman, identified as Heidy Sánchez, was reportedly still breastfeeding her daughter, who suffers from seizures. Her attorney has argued for her humanitarian release from the U.S., asserting that she is not a criminal.
Since Donald Trump resumed presidency on January 20, thousands of undocumented immigrants have been detained, with his stringent immigration policies facing numerous legal challenges.
Notably, in a high-profile case, the government acknowledged mistakenly deporting El Salvadoran national Kilmar Ábrego García, whom they allege is linked to the MS-13 gang, a claim denied by his family and attorney. Despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling mandating that the government facilitate his return, the Trump administration has stated he will “never” be allowed to reside in the U.S. again.
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