Judge states Louisiana 2-year-old deported without adequate legal procedures.

A recent incident involving the deportation of a two-year-old U.S. citizen has drawn significant attention and scrutiny from a federal judge. The case centers around a child identified as “VML,” who was reportedly deported to Honduras by the Trump administration without adequate legal procedures.

The situation unfolded when VML, her mother Jenny Carolina Lopez Villela, and her older sister Valeria were taken into custody during a routine immigration check-in in New Orleans. The family was participating in the “Intensive Supervision Appearance Program,” a framework that facilitates the monitoring of individuals awaiting immigration proceedings. According to court filings, Lopez Villela had previously been released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in 2021 under this same program.

Concerns escalated when the father of the children arrived at the ICE office, only to be informed that the mother and children were in custody and would be in touch soon. Despite notifying ICE of VML’s U.S. citizenship, along with an emergency petition filed in the Western District of Louisiana, the situation took a grievous turn. An email containing the toddler’s U.S. birth certificate was sent to ICE by the family’s attorney, emphasizing VML’s rights as a citizen.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, appointed during the Trump administration, indicated that VML was released in Honduras on Friday afternoon alongside her mother, disregarding her father’s attempts to prevent the deportation. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in January 2023, VML’s case raises profound legal and ethical questions regarding the deportation of U.S. citizens.

Judge Doughty characterized the actions taken against VML as illegal and unconstitutional, asserting it is impermissible to deport or detain a U.S. citizen without due process. During court proceedings, Trump administration officials claimed that Lopez Villela expressed a desire to retain custody of her children and take them to Honduras, her country of origin. However, Doughty has voiced skepticism over whether the mother’s wishes were communicated clearly and whether proper legal representation was involved.

In an attempt to further investigate the matter, Judge Doughty made efforts to reach Lopez Villela by phone on Friday but noted that by that time, the family was already en route to Honduras. A hearing has been scheduled for May 19, aimed at addressing the suspicions raised regarding the government’s handling of this case and the deportation of a U.S. citizen without adequate legal safeguards.

This incident not only illustrates significant lapses in legal protocol but also poses serious implications for the rights of U.S. citizens amid immigration enforcement actions. As the case unfolds, it is expected to prompt further discussion on the intersection of immigration policy and civil rights in the United States.

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