A federal judge raised concerns on Friday that the Trump administration may have deported a 2-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras without following proper procedures.
Court documents reveal that the child was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 4, 2023. The child, along with her mother and 11-year-old sister, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine check-in.
U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty ordered a hearing in Monroe, Louisiana, on May 16 to investigate the case further. He emphasized that it is illegal to deport a U.S. citizen without proper process.
According to the court filing, the child's father, who resides in the U.S., informed immigration officials that the 2-year-old is a U.S. citizen and should not be deported. Despite efforts to prevent the deportation, the child was sent to Honduras along with her mother and sister.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised concerns over the deportation of U.S. citizen children, including the 2-year-old, under questionable circumstances.