Washington (Washington Insider Magazine) – The Trump administration has deported a 2-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras alongside her Honduran-born mother and sister, sparking outrage from immigration advocates and a federal judge who warned the action was carried out “with no meaningful process.”
The deportation was excused by the administration for the reason of the mother of the child wished to take her away with her. However, legal documents show that the father petitioned against the deportation, saying that his daughter, who was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was unlawfully arrested and deported from the US.
In his second term, Trump has increased the immigration crime level, particularly by deportations and strict immigration measures at the border. In the beginning, he gained the support of the people; however, recent polls indicate an opposite trend, with an AP-NORC poll revealing that a majority of Americans are annoyed with his management of immigration policy at 53%.
This case shows how the administration escalated its actions and raised constitutional issues regarding the rights of children born in the United States and the processes of mixed-status families.
The Deportation and Its Immediate Aftermath
The case centres around a toddler identified in court documents as “V.M.L.,” born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in January 2023. She was accompanied to the agency’s New Orleans office for a check-in on Tuesday, along with her Honduran-born mother and her sister.
Even though the father, a U.S. resident, tried to explain to the judge that his daughter is an American citizen and tried to file an emergency custody petition, the family was deported to Honduras on Friday.
The Trump administration sought to defend the deportation by producing a scrawl in Spanish from the mother stating that she wanted to take the daughter with her. However, Judge Doughty questioned the process on Friday, saying this in an order:
“There is a strong suspicion that the Government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process.” He emphasized, “It is illegal and unconstitutional to deport, detain for deportation, or recommend deportation of a U.S. citizen.”
A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told Newsweek:
“The parent made the decision to take the child with them to Honduras. It is common that parents want to be removed with their children. Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children or ICE will place the children with someone the parent designates. In this case, the parent stated they wanted to be removed with the children.”
They added:
“We take our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and protected.”
Teresa Reyes-Flores, Southeast Dignity not Detention Coalition:
“ICE’s actions show a blatant violation of due process and basic human rights. The families were disappeared, cut off from their lawyers and loved ones, and rushed to be deported, stripping their parents of the chance to protect their U.S. citizen children.”
Alanah Odoms, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana:
“Once again, the government has used deceptive tactics to deny people their rights. These outrageous actions must be condemned. We as a nation are better than this. These families deserve better. They must be returned.”
