Three U.S. citizen children—ages 2, 4, and 7—were physically removed to Honduras on April 25, 2025, alongside their mothers, who were subjects of deportation orders. All three children held U.S. citizenship, and the incident has sparked a federal legal dispute about whether U.S.
immigration authorities had the authority to remove or permit the removal of U.S. citizens with their deported parents. The Trump administration disputes the term "deportation," stating that the children were not deported but chose to accompany their mothers. However, multiple news organizations and attorneys representing the families have documented the event as a removal of U.S. citizen children without advance notice or opportunity for judicial review of their citizenship.
Table of Contents
- What Happened on April 25, 2025
- The 4-Year-Old's Interrupted Cancer Treatment
- The Official Dispute Over What Occurred
- U.S. Citizen Status and Removal Authority
- What This Means if You Are in a Similar Situation
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened on April 25, 2025
The three children were removed when their mothers attended routine check-in appointments at an Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) office in St. Rose, Louisiana, where they had been instructed to bring U.S. passports, according to court records and attorneys. The mothers were held in what attorneys describe as incommunicado detention—prevented from contacting lawyers—while the deportation orders were finalized. Federal District Judge Terry Doughty issued an order on April 25 expressing a "strong suspicion that the government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process" after discovering that the 2-year-old had been removed before a hearing could be scheduled to verify her citizenship status.
The 4-Year-Old's Interrupted Cancer Treatment
The middle child was undergoing active treatment for metastatic (stage 4) kidney cancer at the time of removal. According to attorneys at the National Immigration Project and reporting by NBC News, the child was separated from medication and specialized medical care upon arrival in Honduras, where such treatment is not readily available. On April 29, U.S. Representative Norma Torres wrote to Honduras's president requesting the child's return and continued cancer treatment, acknowledging the child's U.S. citizenship and urgent medical needs.
The Official Dispute Over What Occurred
The Trump administration's response, delivered by Border Czar Tom Homan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was to deny that a deportation of U.S. citizens took place. They stated the children had "chosen" to accompany their mothers rather than remaining in the United States. However, court filings and the order issued by Judge Doughty contradict the timeline this characterization requires—the judge found no evidence the families were given prior notice or a meaningful opportunity to separate before removal. The central factual issue—whether the mothers received a genuine choice to leave their children behind or were presented with removal as a fait accompli—remains contested in ongoing litigation with no published court ruling on the merits as of late April 2025.
U.S. Citizen Status and Removal Authority
U.S. citizens have the fundamental right not to be removed from the United States, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Federal law recognizes no authority for immigration officers to remove a U.S. citizen, even if that citizen is a minor traveling with a deported parent. The children held U.S. passports and were born in the United States, making their citizenship clear on the record.
The legal question is not whether they were citizens, but whether immigration authorities verified that status and followed constitutionally required procedures before permitting or effecting their removal. Judge Doughty's order suggests those procedures were not followed.
What This Means if You Are in a Similar Situation
If you are a U.S. citizen minor whose parent faces deportation, your citizenship status is independent of your parent's immigration status. You cannot be deported, and you should not be required to leave the United States with a deported parent unless a court order explicitly permits it and you have legal representation. If you are facing an ISAP check-in or other immigration appointment and have U.S. citizen children, bring documentation of their citizenship (birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards) and consult an immigration attorney before attending. A lawyer can advise whether you should attend in person or request a telephonic appearance, and can file motions to prevent removal of your children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can U.S. citizen children be deported with deported parents?
No. U.S. citizens cannot be deported. If it happened, it likely violated constitutional procedure and federal law. Consult an immigration attorney immediately.
What should I do if I am a U.S. citizen in a deportation case with children?
Document your children's citizenship status. Consult an immigration lawyer before any ICE check-in or court appearance. Request legal representation and file motions to protect your children's right to remain in the U.S.
Are there any court orders protecting these children so far?
Judge Doughty issued an order on April 25, 2025, expressing concern about the removal, but no final court ruling on the merits has been published as of late April 2025.