2-year-old U.S. citizen may have been deported 'with no meaningful process'
By: Jasper Ward
Reuters
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration appeared to have deported a 2-year-old citizen "with no meaningful process," a federal judge said April 25, [2025] as the child's father sought to have her returned to the United States.
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U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty said the girl, who was referred to as "V.M.L." in court documents, was protruded with her mother.
..... "It is illegal and unconstitutional to deport, detain for depredation, or recommend deportation of a U.S. citizen." Doughty said.
..... He scheduled a hearing for May 19 [2025] "in the interest of dispelling our strong suspicion that the Government just deports a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process."
..... V.M.L. was apprehended by U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday [04/22/2025] with her mother, Jenny Carlina Lopez Villela, and older sister when Villela attended a routine appointment at tis New Orleans office, according to a filing by Trish Mack, who said the infant's father asked her to act as the child's custodian.
..... According to Mack, when V.M.L.'s father briefly spoke to Villela, he could her her and the children crying. During that time, according to a court document, he remained her that their daughter was a U.S. citizen "and could not be deported."
..... However, prosecutors said Villela, who has legal custody, told ICE that she wanted to retain custody of the girl and have are go with her to Honduras. They said the man claiming to be V.M.L.'s father had not presented himself to ICE despite request to do so.
..... "It is therefore in V.M.L. best interest that she remain in the lawful custody of the mother," Trump administration officials said in a filing on April 25. [2025] "Further, V.M.L. is not at risk of irreparable harm because she is a U.S. citizen."
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V.M.L. is not prohibited from entering the U.S., prosecutors added.
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The Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.
..... The cameraman Civil Liberties Union described V.M.L.'s case - and another similar case - as a "shocking ,,, abuse of power."
..... "These actions stand in direct violation of ICE's own written and informal directives, which mandate coordination for the care of minor children with willing caretakers - regardless of immigration status - when deportations are being careered out," it said.
..... President Donald Trump, whose campaigns focused heavily on immigration, said this month [04/2025] he wanted to deport some violent criminals who are U.S. citizens to El Salvadoran prisons. The comment raised concern about a proposal and is viewed by many legal scholars as unconstitutional.
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The Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration, which has already deported hundreds of people to el Salvador, to "facilitate and effectuate" the return of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to the country on March 15 [2025] despite an order protecting him from deportation.