Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the situation involving three young children, ages 2, 4, and 7, who are United States citizens and were recently removed from the country, stating that they "went with their mothers" to Honduras, not deported.
The children, from different families, were flown to Honduras with their mothers on April 25.
One of the children, a 4-year-old with Stage 4 cancer, is now without access to medication or medical care, as reported by The Washington Post and the Associated Press. The 4-year-old and 7-year-old are siblings.
In an interview on "Meet the Press," Rubio responded to the situation, disputing the headline as "misleading."
Rubio clarified that the children, being US citizens, can return to the United States if a family member assumes custody.
Court documents revealed that the 2-year-old's father, a US resident, informed immigration officials of her citizenship. Despite this, the child and her family were deported.
A hearing has been scheduled to address the concerns raised over the deportation of a US citizen without proper legal process.
Rubio emphasized the importance of following immigration laws, stating that those in the country unlawfully must be removed. He acknowledged the right to due process for all individuals, citizens and noncitizens alike.
Contributing: Sarah Wire, USA TODAY; Reuters