- A Louisiana judge raises concerns about the deportation of a 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen toddler without proper legal process.
- The father files a petition to stop the deportation, claiming it violated the 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen child’s rights.
- The judge schedules a hearing to investigate the legality of the deportation and due process violations involving the 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen.
Judge Questions Deportation of US Citizen Toddler
A Louisiana federal judge is raising serious concerns about the Trump administration’s deportation of a two-year-old U.S. citizen. Judge Terry Doughty believes the 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen’s constitutional rights may have been violated. He expressed worry that the deportation process was carried out without following proper legal procedures. The judge’s comments bring attention to the government’s actions, which may have bypassed legal safeguards.
Hearing Scheduled to Review Deportation Case
Judge Doughty has scheduled a hearing for May 16 to further investigate the case. He suspects the government deported a U.S. citizen without adequate legal process. This case involves a toddler, V.M.L., who was sent to Honduras with her mother. The deportation took place despite legal protections for U.S. citizens and the wishes of the child’s father.
Family Detained During Routine Immigration Check
The incident began during a routine immigration check-in at the New Orleans office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). V.M.L.’s mother, Jenny Carolina Lopez Villela, was there with her two daughters. They were attending the check-in as part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, which had previously allowed the mother to be released from ICE detention. The family was expecting the check-in to be a routine visit. However, without warning, the family was detained and lined up for deportation.
Father Takes Legal Action to Stop Deportation
The father of the two-year-old immediately took legal action. He filed an emergency petition to gain custody of his daughter and prevent her deportation. The father emphasized that the deportation was illegal and violated his daughter’s rights. He also made it clear that he was ready to provide a safe and stable home for his child in the U.S. His legal team argued that the deportation was baseless and lacked legal justification.
Legal Issues and Concerns About Due Process
The father’s legal team raised concerns about the detention process. They argued that the child’s detention was unlawful and that the father was denied access to communicate with the mother. The father claimed that ICE allowed only a brief, one-minute conversation between him and the mother. This short time frame left them with no opportunity to make informed decisions about their daughter’s future. The lawyers also pointed out that the child’s deportation violated her due process rights.
U.S. Citizenship of the Toddler
V.M.L. was born in Baton Rouge in January 2023, making her a U.S. citizen. Despite her citizenship, government officials claimed the mother wanted to take her child to Honduras. They presented a note they claimed was written by the mother, stating her desire to bring her daughter with her to Honduras. However, the judge questioned whether the mother truly consented to this decision. He wanted to confirm this before taking any further steps.
Judge Attempts to Verify Information
Judge Doughty attempted to verify the details of the mother’s intentions. He tried reaching out to the mother directly to confirm whether she wanted to deport her daughter. Unfortunately, by the time the judge sought to speak with her, the family was already on their way to Honduras. The Trump administration later confirmed that the family had been released in Honduras. This raised further doubts about the process and the accuracy of the information presented in court.
May Hearing to Address Legal Concerns
Given the serious nature of the case, Judge Doughty scheduled a hearing for May. His decision to personally look into the matter is noteworthy, especially considering that he was appointed by President Trump in 2017. The judge has made several rulings in favor of the president’s policies, which makes his involvement in this case all the more significant. The hearing will provide more insight into whether the deportation of V.M.L. followed the proper legal procedures.
Concerns Over Rushed Deportations and Trump’s Push for Speed
VML’s case highlights growing fears about the Trump administration’s fast deportation practices. Many courts have warned that deportations are happening too quickly, without giving people fair legal protection. This case is especially troubling because it involves a U.S. citizen child deported with little justification. Worries are rising that basic rights are being ignored in the rush to deport the 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen.
President Trump has openly criticized judges who block his deportation efforts. He argued the country cannot afford long trials for all migrants, claiming it would take “200 years” to process everyone. Trump stressed the need to act quickly, especially to remove criminals like killers and drug dealers. He called on the courts to cooperate, warning that delays could endanger public safety. His comments show growing frustration with the legal system and a strong push to speed up deportations.
