An inquiry at the federal level has been initiated after a two-year-old American citizen was reportedly deported to Honduras with her mother, allegedly without proper legal procedures. The child, referred to as VML, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 4, 2023. She was deported last Friday alongside her Honduran mother, who had been issued a deportation order, according to court documents accessed by NBC News.
The situation caught the attention of Judge Terry Doughty of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, prompting him to schedule a hearing on May 16 to investigate the matter further. "The Government argues that everything is in order because the mother wants the child deported with her. However, the Court does not have that confirmed," Doughty stated in his order.
According to reports, the mother and her two daughters, including VML, were detained last Tuesday in New Orleans during a scheduled appointment with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The mother had been part of an intensive supervision program since her release from a detention center in 2021.
VML's father, who resides in the United States, had filed for custody of the child and requested that she be placed under the care of a guardian available in the country. Nevertheless, before the court could take action, the child had already been deported.
The government maintains that the mother held legal custody of the child and had expressed her wish to take her daughter to Honduras through a handwritten letter in Spanish. However, the letter was signed while they were in ICE custody, mere hours before their flight.
Organizations advocating for migrant rights, such as the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, have condemned the deportation as a violation of the Constitution and VML's rights as a U.S. citizen. As of now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have not released any official statements regarding the case, while criticism of current immigration protocols continues to mount.
This case adds to a series of wrongful deportations that have occurred in the United States following Donald Trump's return to the presidency, coinciding with his "zero tolerance" policy that has intensified immigration controls and led to massive family separations, increasing the risk of American citizens being mistakenly expelled from the country.
A recent example includes José Hermosillo, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen, who was detained in Arizona in April 2025. Hermosillo, who had forgotten his identification while visiting family, was arrested on suspicion of being an undocumented Mexican migrant and remained in custody for 10 days until his family could prove his citizenship.
Another concerning case is that of Kilmar Ábrego García, a legally residing Salvadoran in Maryland since 2011, who was erroneously deported to El Salvador despite having a court order that prohibited his removal. He is currently detained in a maximum-security prison, with his return to the U.S. on hold following an appeal by the American government.
Additionally, Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, a Cuban mother, was recently deported from Tampa, Florida, leaving her one-year-old nursing daughter in the care of her American husband. Sánchez, who had applied to regularize her immigration status, was sent back to Cuba despite adhering strictly to ICE conditions and having an ongoing immigration process.
Understanding U.S. Deportation Policies and Their Implications
What led to the deportation of the U.S. citizen toddler to Honduras?
The toddler, VML, was deported to Honduras with her mother, who had a deportation order. The government claims the mother expressed a desire to take her daughter, but the decision is under scrutiny due to the lack of proper legal procedures.
How has the government's "zero tolerance" policy affected deportations?
The "zero tolerance" policy has tightened immigration controls, leading to increased family separations and incidents where American citizens have been wrongfully deported, as seen in several recent cases.
What actions are being taken to address wrongful deportations?
Federal investigations and court hearings are being conducted to review cases of wrongful deportations, and advocacy groups are calling for reforms to protect the rights of U.S. citizens and legal residents.