The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Saturday that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has withdrawn a lawsuit accusing the federal government of unlawfully deporting a U.S. citizen child to Honduras alongside her mother.
The ACLU dropped a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that claimed the Trump administration unlawfully deported a U.S. citizen child after a letter was found where the mother explicitly directed that she be deported with her minor child. Duh.
You won’t…
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) May 12, 2025
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The case involved Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela, a Honduran national who had previously entered the United States illegally on multiple occasions.
DHS labeled the now-dismissed lawsuit as “baseless lawfare” and denied all allegations of misconduct.
According to officials, the child in question was not deported but was taken to Honduras voluntarily by her mother, who was subject to a final removal order.
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The ACLU originally filed the lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DHS, challenging the circumstances under which the child—identified in court documents as “V.M.L.”—was removed from the country.
The suit claimed V.M.L., a U.S. citizen born on January 4, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was deported along with her undocumented mother and 11-year-old sister.
Court records state that Lopez-Villela and her children were taken into ICE custody on April 22, 2025, during a mandatory check-in under the agency’s Intensive Supervision Appearance Program.
ICE officials stated that at that time, Lopez-Villela presented a valid U.S. passport for V.M.L. as proof of her daughter’s American citizenship.
No. ICE did NOT deport US citizen children. The mother made the determination to take her children with her back to Honduras.
We take our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and… https://t.co/pvKhO4F5xU
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 29, 2025
ICE reported that Lopez-Villela had entered the United States illegally on three separate occasions: in September 2019, March 2021, and August 2021. She and her older daughter were deemed inadmissible during the first encounter and were issued final removal orders in March 2020.
When Lopez-Villela was taken into custody during the April 2025 check-in, ICE indicated she chose to bring her two-year-old daughter with her to Honduras voluntarily.
Wrong, Harry. ICE did NOT deport US citizen children. The mother made the determination to take her children with her back to Honduras.
We take our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are… https://t.co/ynNQazp0KN
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 29, 2025
Tom Homan shares the TRUTH about the “2 year old US citizen” the left is trying to use for emotional support against deportations.
She was NOT deported. Her illegal mother was deported. The mother CHOSE to take the child with her. pic.twitter.com/dVaWnunAJw
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) April 28, 2025
The agency emphasized that no coercion or forced deportation of the U.S. citizen child occurred.
No. ICE did NOT deport US citizen children. The mother made the determination to take her children with her back to Honduras.
We take our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and… https://t.co/eM5NDO5rYk
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 29, 2025
“The ACLU dropped its lawsuit on the false claims that DHS deported a U.S. citizen,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLauglin.
“The truth is, and has always been, that the mother—who was in the country illegally—chose to bring her 2-year-old with her to Honduras when she was removed. The narrative that DHS is deporting American children is false and irresponsible.”
No. ICE did NOT deport US citizen children. The mother made the determination to take her children with her back to Honduras.
We take our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and… https://t.co/Wpw9Vl8HuS
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 29, 2025
A hearing on the case had been scheduled for May 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana before Judge Terry Doughty.
The ACLU has not provided any public explanation for its decision to withdraw the lawsuit ahead of that hearing.
In its Saturday statement, DHS reiterated that it takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the safety of children and continues to work with federal law enforcement to maintain protections for minors.
The department also encouraged undocumented parents to use the CBP Home mobile application, which provides individuals with the option to coordinate their own departure from the United States.
The CBP Home app allows non-citizens, including parents with removal orders, to “self-deport” under controlled circumstances and possibly position themselves for legal reentry at a future date, DHS stated.
Officials continue to emphasize that the department’s actions were consistent with immigration law and that the voluntary departure of the U.S. citizen child occurred at the discretion of her mother.
Legacy media has worked overtime to implant yet another fake controversy about “US Children” being deported.
Marco Rubio appeared on ABC to set the record straight:
“Three US citizens, ages four, seven, and two, were not deported. Their mother, who is illegally in this country,… pic.twitter.com/aOSCFLnGQ3
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) April 27, 2025
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