Federal Judge Questions Deportation of U.S. Citizen Toddler

News Summary

A federal judge has raised serious concerns about the deportation of VML, a 2-year-old U.S. citizen, to Honduras. Despite her lawful status, she was taken by ICE during a routine check-in, sparking debates over due process. The judge called the deportation unconstitutional, highlighting broader issues surrounding U.S. immigration policies and their impact on families. As the legal battle unfolds, many are left questioning the rights of families entangled in immigration enforcement actions.

Federal Judge Raises Eyebrows Over Deported 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen, VML

In a surprising twist in the often-contentious realm of immigration, a federal judge has voiced serious concerns regarding the sudden deportation of a 2-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras. This little one, identified in court documents as VML, was born right in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 4, 2023, making her status very much a part of America.

Deportation Without Due Process?

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty isn’t just casually raising questions; he’s outright stating that deporting a U.S. citizen is not just illegal, it’s unconstitutional. This case isn’t just about VML; it shines a light on the complexities surrounding U.S. immigration, especially when kids are involved. VML, along with her 11-year-old sister and their mother, found themselves in a very hard place after being taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in in New Orleans on April 22, 2025.

A Family in Detention

The mother of these little girls is undocumented, but their father has gone to great lengths to assert VML’s citizenship. He informed ICE officials multiple times about his daughter’s legal status, even providing her birth certificate during the family’s check-in. This wasn’t a one-off event; the family had been attending routine check-ins for four years, often with the dad watching over his daughters.

When Everything Went Wrong

On the fateful day of their detention, the family was taken to an ICE field office. Following this, the father, understandably worried, received papers stating that his partner and daughters would soon be deported. Despite his attempts to emphasize VML’s U.S. citizenship to the agents, the situation only escalated. An agent bluntly informed him that his family would be sent back to Honduras that same night.

Efforts to Reverse the Deportation

In a desperate move, the father sought to transfer legal custody of VML to his U.S. citizen sister-in-law. However, ICE denied this request, defending their stance by claiming VML was already “with her mother.” Even though an attorney filed a pleading to halt the deportation, the unthinkable happened—VML was sent back to Honduras.

Consequences of a Rapid Decision

While the judge has scheduled a hearing for May 16 to unravel the legal entanglements of VML’s deportation, it has sparked discussions about the government’s assumptions regarding the mother’s wishes. Judge Doughty pointed out that the decisions made by ICE seemed more like unchecked assumptions than legally sound judgments. After all, what rights does a family truly have when they are deemed “illegal”? These are troubling questions indeed.

Broader Implications

This heartbreaking incident isn’t an isolated one. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported that two other U.S. citizen children, aged 4 and 7, faced similar fates that same week, raising alarms about the treatment of families under current immigration policies. Critics point out that this not only lacks due process but also shows a blatant disregard for the rights of young citizens caught in an immigration quagmire.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As the hearing approaches, many are left to ponder the broader implications of this case. What does it mean for immigrant families, and how might this influence the ongoing debate about immigration policies in the U.S.? VML’s story is a gut-wrenching reminder that real lives are affected by policies that often seem abstract or distant. We must all collectively question how we can advocate for justice in a system that too often seems to forget its most vulnerable members.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• CBS News
• Wikipedia: Deportation in the United States
• USA Today
• Google Search: U.S. immigration law
• MSNBC
• Google Scholar: immigration law children
• NOLA
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
• Newsweek
• Google News: immigration child deportation