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Original Date Announced
February 1, 2025Several news outlets have reported that immigration authorities are deporting U.S. minors without following prior processes and procedures. Deportations have been reported as early as February 2025.
For example, NBC News reports that a U.S. citizen minor child recovering from brain cancer was on their way to an emergency medical checkup in Texas when their family was detained at an immigration checkpoint and deported. BBC reports that a two-year-old U.S. citizen born in Louisiana - identified as VML- may have been deported with her mother and sister "with no meaningful process."
Trump 2.0 [ID #1708]
2025.03.12 Reported: U.S. citizen child recovering from brain cancer removed to Mexico with undocumented parents 2025.04.26_Reported - BBC: Judge says US citizen, 2, may have been deported without 'meaningful process'Effective Date
February 1, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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April 24, 2025
2025.04.24_Petition for Habeas Corpus, VML v. Harper ,1:25-cv-00550, (W.D. La, 2025)
A petition for writ of habeas corpus was filed on behalf of V.M.L. in the Western District of Louisiana. Petitioner claims Respondents have no legal authority to detain V.M.L. because she is a natural-born U.S. citizen and a toddler. V.M.L. was detained after her mother attended a scheduled appointment with ICE's Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). The petition alleges that Respondents have refused to release V.M.L. to her legally-designated custodian, and that ICE is detaining V.M.L. "in order to induce her father to turn himself in to the immigration authorities." V.M.L. v. Harper, 1:25-cv-00550, (W.D. La, 2025).
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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April 25, 2025
2025.04.25 Memorandum Order - V.M.L. v. Harper
In a Memorandum Order responding to VML's Emergency Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, Judge Terry A. Doughty of the Western District of Louisiana indicated that the government had informed the court that VML's mother, presumably along with VML, had already been removed to Honduras. Judge Doughty set a hearing for May 16, 2025 "[i]n the interest of dispelling our strong suspicion that the Government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process." V.M.L. v. Harper, 1:25-cv-00550 (W.D. La. 2025).
*See litigation note above*
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April 26, 2025
2025.04.25 Reported: ICE Deports 3 U.S. Citizen Children Held Incommunicado Prior to the Deportation
The National Immigration Project (NIP) reports that New Orleans ICE Field Office deported at least two families on April 25, 2025, including two mothers and their minor children, three of whom are U.S. citizen children aged 2, 4, and 7. NIP says that ICE held both families "incommunicado" - denying them access to reach family members of legal counsel over the phone. NIP argues that, "These actions stand in direct violation of ICE’s own written and informal directives, which mandate coordination for the care of minor children with willing caretakers regardless of immigration status–when deportations are being carried out."
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Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Reported In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Citizenship InteriorAssociated or Derivative Policies
Pre Trump-Era Policies
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July 14, 2022
Section 5.7 of the Biden-era ICE directive outlines the pre-removal responsibilities ICE must undertake to determine whether a child will accompany a parent during removal or remain with a suitable caretaker in the U.S.
2022.07.14 ICE Directive 11064.3: Interests of Noncitizen Parents and Legal guardians of Minor Children or Incapacitated Adults
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
- Prior Policy
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Civil Rights Clearinghouse
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
CourtListener - VML v. Harper, Memorandum Order
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