On April 25, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported three U.S. citizen children to Honduras, sparking outrage and legal challenges. Among them was a 4-year-old boy who is undergoing treatment for stage 4 cancer. The deportations also involved the boy’s 7-year-old sister and a 2-year-old girl, along with their families, all of whom were detained during routine check-ins with ICE in Louisiana.
The families, including undocumented parents, were sent back to Honduras despite the fact that the children were U.S. citizens. Legal representatives argue that proper legal procedures were not followed, denying the families a chance to contest the deportations. In the case of the 4-year-old cancer patient, attorneys claim ICE was notified of the child’s medical condition before the deportation but failed to provide necessary medical care or allow for proper consultation with healthcare providers.
In response to these events, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty has scheduled a hearing for May 16 to address concerns over the deportation of the 2-year-old girl, expressing strong reservations about the legality of removing a U.S. citizen child without due process.
The deportations have drawn widespread criticism from civil rights organizations, legal experts, and lawmakers who argue that the actions violate constitutional protections and raise serious concerns about the treatment of vulnerable children.
