A Louisiana federal judge has raised concerns that a two-year-old US citizen may have been deported without proper legal procedures, coinciding with the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement. A hearing is set to investigate these allegations further.
Two-Year-Old US Citizen Deported: Judge Questions Legality of Process
Two-Year-Old US Citizen Deported: Judge Questions Legality of Process
A federal judge highlights potential due process violations in the deportation of a young US citizen, sparking renewed debate over immigration policies.
A federal judge has outlined grave concerns surrounding the deportation of a two-year-old US citizen, who was reportedly sent to Honduras along with her mother and elder sister without adequate legal oversight. The court filing by Judge Terry Doughty indicates a "strong suspicion" that the child, referred to as VML, was deported "with no meaningful process," during a period of heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
The family was taken into custody during a scheduled visit at an immigration office in New Orleans on April 22, according to the documents reviewed. Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the mother opted to accompany her children upon her deportation. After the judge requested a phone discussion with the child's mother, government lawyers indicated it was impossible because they had already been released in Honduras.
While the immigration status of the girl's family remains uncertain, her status as a US citizen complicates the legal narrative. Judge Doughty emphasized that "it is illegal and unconstitutional to deport, detain for deportation, or recommend deportation of a US citizen," leading to a scheduled hearing on May 19 to discern whether the government failed to follow appropriate legal protocols in this case.
Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, acknowledged in a statement to CBS News that parents often wish to take their children with them during deportation proceedings. This case isn't isolated; another instance has emerged in Florida where a Cuban mother and her US citizen spouse were detained and subsequently deported shortly after their appointment, invoking humanitarian concerns surrounding their infant child suffering from health issues.
The Trump administration's stringent immigration policies have faced numerous legal challenges, with notable cases raising questions about wrongfully deported individuals, including El Salvador national Kilmar Ábrego García, who is alleged by the government to have gang affiliations, a claim his family disputes. Despite a Supreme Court ruling advocating for his return to the US, administration officials have declared he will "never" re-enter the country.
As these incidents unfold, they underscore the critical dialogue surrounding immigration law enforcement under the current administration, particularly concerning the treatment of US citizens and vulnerable populations during deportation processes.
