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Two-year-old U.S. citizen deported to Honduras by ICE before judge could rule

A 2-year-old U.S. citizen born in Baton Rouge was deported to Honduras with her undocumented mother and sister before a judge could rule on emergency motions to stop it. A federal judge is now investigating the lack of due process.

May 16, 2025New Orleans, LACountry of origin: Honduras

Two-year-old U.S. citizen deported to Honduras by ICE before judge could rule
Photo via ABC News

V.M.L., a 2-year-old U.S. citizen born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 4, 2023, was detained by ICE on April 22, 2025, during a routine check-in at an Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office in New Orleans. She was apprehended alongside her undocumented mother and 11-year-old sister. When her father provided citizenship documents and his attorney filed emergency motions for habeas corpus and a temporary restraining order to prevent deportation, an ICE officer told the father they would deport his family anyway. The child and her mother were deported to Honduras on April 25, 2025, before the court could rule on the legal motions. The mother was held in an undisclosed location, cut off from family and counsel, and reportedly coerced into accepting deportation under duress. Federal Judge Terry Doughty expressed strong suspicion that the government deported a U.S. citizen "with no meaningful process" in violation of due process protections and scheduled a hearing for May 16 to investigate.

Timeline

May 16, 2025—Federal Judge Terry Doughty expressed strong suspicion of improper removal and scheduled hearing to investigate whether U.S. citizen was deported without meaningful due process
Apr 25, 2025—Child and mother deported to Honduras before court could rule on legal motions; mother held in undisclosed location, cut off from family and counsel
Apr 22, 2025—V.M.L., a 2-year-old U.S. citizen, detained by ICE during routine check-in at Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office in New Orleans; apprehended with undocumented mother and 11-year-old sister
Apr 22, 2025—Father provided citizenship documents to ICE; attorney filed emergency motions for habeas corpus and temporary restraining order; ICE officer told father they would deport family anyway
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