The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has denied claims of family separations during the deportation of illegal immigrants within the country. In a statement on social media platform X, ICE clarified that American citizen children are not being deported and the agency does not separate families.
"Instead of separating families, ICE asks mothers if they wish to be deported with their children or if they prefer ICE to place the children with a safe contact designated by the parent," the agency noted, referring to the deportation of a mother and her U.S. citizen children to Mexico. This news has caused a stir among the immigrant community.
ICE has labeled the allegations of deporting American children as both false and "irresponsible." Recent reports indicate that Denisse Parra Vargas and her partner were apprehended in Austin due to an expired vehicle registration. Following her release, Denisse was placed under the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program in San Antonio, Texas.
When attending a hearing for her partner at ICE facilities in Pflugerville, Denisse and her three children, two of whom are U.S. citizens, were detained and subsequently deported to Reynosa, Mexico. Incidents of family separations have surfaced amidst a rise in deportations driven by Trump's immigration policies.
In another alarming case, a Cuban mother named Heidy Sánchez was deported because of a final removal order from 2019. Despite efforts to reopen her case, ICE expedited her removal, ignoring her compliance with immigration obligations. Her deportation has been devastating for her family; her 17-month-old daughter, who was still breastfeeding, has suffered both emotionally and physically.
Heidy's husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, now shoulders the responsibility of parenting alone, which has impacted his ability to work and financially support the family. The separation has inflicted significant emotional distress on the entire family.
Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor has demanded answers from the Trump administration, condemning the deportation as "cruel and illegal." A campaign to collect signatures for a humanitarian permit to allow Heidy's return to the United States has also been launched.
Key Questions on ICE Deportation Practices
Does ICE deport American citizen children?
ICE has stated that they do not deport children who are U.S. citizens and do not separate families during deportation processes.
What options are given to mothers facing deportation?
ICE offers mothers the choice to be deported with their children or to have their children placed with a designated safe contact.
What legal actions are being taken for deported families?
Efforts include campaigns for humanitarian permits and demands for legal explanations from the Trump administration regarding deportation practices.