A federal judge has ordered a hearing on the alleged unlawful deportation of a 2-year-old U.S. citizen. District Judge Terry Doughty expressed concerns about the circumstances of the child’s removal and the government’s alleged failure to protect her rights. Doughty noted that the child’s mother intended to take them back to Honduras, providing a handwritten note as proof.
Doughty said, “VML is ostensibly a two-year-old United States citizen. On April 24, 2025, this Court received a Petition contending that VML was being deported, alongside her illegal-immigrant mother, to Honduras.”
However, the judge questioned the identities of those advocating for the child and found that the government could not verify the mother’s claim.
Doughty stated that U.S. citizens cannot be deported, raising significant implications for parental rights and the rights of citizen children. He scheduled a hearing to clarify the situation and examine the legality of V.M.L.’s deportation.
Doughty said, “Of course, ‘It is illegal and unconstitutional to deport, detain for deportation, or recommend deportation of a U.S. citizen.’”
Doughty added, “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.”
