V.M.L.

Synopsis

V.M.L. is a 2-year-old U.S. citizen identified by initials in federal court filings. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2023 to Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela, a Honduran national, and a U.S.-resident father. PBS NewsHour and Associated Press reporting describe her as one of three U.S.-citizen children deported to Honduras in late April 2025 alongside undocumented mothers. On April 22, 2025, Lopez-Villela brought V.M.L. and her 11-year-old sister Janelle to a routine Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) check-in at an ICE office in New Orleans. All three were detained. According to court filings summarized by NPR, CNN, and PBS, V.M.L.'s father learned of the detention about an hour after drop-off. When Lopez-Villela was briefly allowed to call him on an ICE officer's phone, he objected to his daughter's removal and tried to give their attorney's number; the officer hung up. Attorneys filed an emergency habeas petition and sought a temporary restraining order. Sirine Shebaya of the National Immigration Project told PBS that the mothers did not choose to take their citizen children with them and were prevented from consulting family or lawyers. Lopez-Villela said she signed paperwork agreeing to take V.M.L. to Honduras only after an officer threatened foster care placement for the children. On April 25, 2025, while litigation was pending, V.M.L., her mother, and sister were flown to Honduras. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty wrote that he had a "strong suspicion that the Government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process." DHS maintained the mother chose to bring the child. The family voluntarily dismissed its initial lawsuit in May 2025 and filed a new suit in July 2025 seeking damages and declaratory relief. TIMELINE April 22, 2025 — V.M.L., her mother, and sister detained at a routine ISAP check-in in New Orleans (PBS NewsHour, NPR). April 24–25, 2025 — Family held in Louisiana; attorneys prepare habeas petition while government moves toward deportation (court filings). April 25, 2025 — V.M.L. deported to Honduras before court can rule on emergency relief (NPR, Judge Doughty order). May 16, 2025 — Judge Doughty schedules hearing, calling citizen deportation "illegal and unconstitutional" (NOLA.com). July 31, 2025 — Family files new lawsuit with Morales-Valle family seeking damages (National Immigration Project). This profile summarizes published reporting; legal status and location may change.

Key takeaways

From court records, news reporting, and linked sources below.

1. V.M.L. is a 2-year-old U.S. citizen born in Baton Rouge in 2023, identified by initials in federal court filings.
2. She was detained April 22, 2025, at a routine ICE check-in in New Orleans and deported to Honduras April 25 with her mother and sister.
3. Her father and attorneys told courts they wanted her to remain in the United States; lawyers said ICE blocked meaningful contact with family and counsel.
4. Judge Terry Doughty said he had a 'strong suspicion' the government deported a U.S. citizen 'with no meaningful process.'
5. National Immigration Project executive director Sirine Shebaya told PBS the mothers did not request their children's deportation and were denied real choice.

Reference links

• PBS NewsHour — Children who are U.S. citizens deported along with foreign-born mothers, attorneys say↗
• PBS NewsHour / AP — ICE deported 3 children who are U.S. citizens, their families' lawyers say↗
• NPR — U.S. judge says a 2-year-old girl was deported to Honduras↗
• New York Magazine / Congress.gov — All the U.S. Citizens Who've Been Caught Up in Trump's Immigration Crackdown↗

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