2-year-old US citizen deported without 'meaningful process': Judge
Share and Follow


(The Hill) A federal judge on Friday sounded the alarm after lawyers alleged the Trump administration deported a 2-year-old U.S. citizen without “meaningful process.”

The toddler’s father filed a petition for release after the child was deported alongside her sister and mother, who was determined to be in the country illegally, to Honduras.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, an appointee of President Trump, confirmed that the child had been released in the Central American country with her family.

Doughty scheduled a hearing on the matter for May 16 in Louisiana in the interest of “dispelling our strong suspicion that the Government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process.”

In the court filings, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials claimed the mother told agents she wanted to keep the child in her custody. The Trump administration included a note written in Spanish, apparently from the mother, but the judge said it would have to be verified, according to reports.

“The Government contends that this is all okay because the mother wishes that the child be deported with her. But the Court doesn’t know that,” Doughty wrote in legal documents.

He added that the court spoke with administration counsel, but attempts to speak with the mother of the child, known by the initials V.M.L., were void, as officials said she had been released in Honduras.

The incident follows a series of alleged wrongful deportations of lawful residents by ICE as part of the president’s sweeping immigration agenda. Most recently, the Trump administration has been under fire for the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.

The White House, ICE and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
California voter ID law hits 1 million signatures, organizer says

California Voter ID Initiative Reaches Milestone with 1 Million Signatures, Organizer Reports

LOS ANGELES — A proposed statewide measure mandating voters to present photo…
Red-Washing: How the media sanitizes a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary as a ‘preschool teacher’

Unmasking Red-Washing: Media’s Portrayal of Marxist-Leninist Revolutionaries as Innocuous Preschool Teachers

Jessica Plichta became an unexpected symbol of protest when she was arrested…
Jamie Dimon warns Trump's Fed intervention will backfire

Jamie Dimon Sounds the Alarm: Why Trump’s Fed Interference Could Spell Economic Trouble

JP Morgan’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, has issued a caution against the Trump…
Trump 'immediately' imposes 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran. That could include China

Trump Swiftly Enacts 25% Tariffs on Nations Engaging with Iran, Potentially Impacting China

In a bold move, former President Donald Trump announced on Monday that…
UK targets Elon Musk’s X with fines and possible ban over Grok deepfake abuse

UK Considers Fines and Ban for Elon Musk’s X Over Grok Deepfake Controversy

The British government has stepped up its efforts against AI-generated sexual abuse,…
Son, 19, who was sole survivor in father's murder-suicide rampage dies unexpectedly

Tragic Twist: Sole Survivor of Father’s Murder-Suicide Rampage Dies at 19

A 19-year-old man, who survived a tragic murder-suicide orchestrated by his father…
Harvey news: Mayor misses Harvey City Council's first meeting in months as financial crisis continues, frustrating residents

Harvey Mayor Absent from Key City Council Meeting Amid Ongoing Financial Struggles, Leaving Residents Frustrated

The city of Harvey, Illinois, convened its City Council meeting on Monday…
Minnesota sues Trump admin over sweeping immigration raids in Twin Cities

Minnesota Takes Legal Action Against Trump Administration Over Twin Cities Immigration Raids

Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a…