Deported Without a Voice: The Story of V.M.L, two-year-old daughter born in New Orleans in 2023, making her a U.S. citizen.

Today, we explore the troubling case of a two-year-old U.S. citizen, identified as V.M.L., who was deported to Honduras without due process. This incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of U.S. citizens in immigration enforcement.

 

It all began during a routine check-in at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in New Orleans. Jenny Carolina Lopez Villela, a Honduran national, arrived with her two daughters: an 11-year-old and V.M.L., her two-year-old daughter born in New Orleans in 2023, making her a U.S. citizen. What was supposed to be a standard procedure turned into a life-altering event when ICE detained Jenny and her children .

 

Back in the U.S., V.M.L.'s father, a U.S. citizen, was blindsided by the sudden detention. He was granted only a brief one-minute phone call with Jenny while she was in ICE custody, severely limiting their ability to make decisions regarding their daughter's welfare. Desperate to keep his daughter in the country, he filed an emergency petition seeking custody. However, before the court could intervene, ICE had already deported Jenny and both daughters to Honduras .

 

ICE presented a handwritten letter in Spanish, allegedly from Jenny, stating her desire for V.M.L. to accompany her to Honduras. However, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty questioned the validity of this consent, especially given the limited communication between the parents and the lack of proper verification. The judge expressed deep concern over the government's handling of the case, emphasizing the need to clarify whether a U.S. citizen was unlawfully removed from the country .

 

The deportation of V.M.L. without due process has sparked outrage among legal experts and civil rights organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the act as a significant abuse of power, noting it violated ICE's own guidelines regarding the care of minor U.S. citizens during deportations. This incident highlights systemic issues in the administration’s deportation practices, raising questions about the protection of U.S. citizens' rights in immigration enforcement .

 

A hearing is scheduled for May 16 to investigate the matter further. Judge Doughty, appointed by former President Trump, has expressed strong concerns over possible violations of the due process rights of a U.S. citizen. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for immigration enforcement policies and the protection of U.S. citizens' rights.