Judge Calls for Investigation after 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Deported to Honduras

Legal challenges mount as federal judge probes the deportation of a U.S. citizen, questioning whether proper due process was followed.

The Trump administration's decision to deport an American citizen of 2 years to Honduras without following any formal procedures and against her father's desires alarmed a federal judge in Louisiana on Friday.

In a succinct decision, Doughty of the Federal District Court Judge Terry A., questioned why the government had deported the child, who was only known as V.M.L., to Honduras along with her mother, although the father was not ready for it.

Judge Doughty stated, “This government argues that it is all fine because the mother wants the deportation of her child as well.” However, the court knows nothing of that. Judge Doughty has said that deporting a U.S. citizen is "unlawful and unconstitutional," and has set a hearing date of May 16 to look into his strong belief that the federal government just deported a U.S. citizen without any formalities.

The most recent challenge to the legitimacy of several elements of President Trump's vigorous deportation efforts are the V.M.L. case, which Politico previously reported on.

Seven federal magistrates in courts throughout the nation have previously prevented the administration from using a seldom-used wartime provision to deport Venezuelan migrants who are allegedly gang members to El Salvador. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man, was wrongfully deported to El Salvador, and it hasn't done anything to get him back, which has caused a stir.