Dispute Erupts Over Claims of US Citizen Children ‘Deported to Honduras’ as Trump Officials Respond | US News
The Trump administration has challenged allegations that three US citizen children were deported to Honduras with their mothers.
One of these children, a four-year-old boy battling Stage 4 cancer, was reportedly sent without his medication, according to a lawyer representing the family.
Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s border czar, stated on Monday that the children were put on deportation flights at the request of their mothers, who are from Honduras.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also clarified that the children did not face deportation but instead “went with their mothers,” emphasizing that being US citizens allows them to return if someone in the US is willing to support them.
According to Sky News’ partner network NBC News, the families’ lawyers disputed the statements from Trump officials, alleging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) timed out their efforts to assist the families in making arrangements for the children.
Lawyers for the women reported that they were arrested during routine check-ins with ICE, given minimal opportunity to communicate with their legal representatives or family, and subsequently deported in less than three days.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, expressed confidence in the agency’s processes and procedures, asserting that they had documentation confirming that it was the parents’ decision for the children to accompany them.
“We take our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to collaborate with federal law enforcement to ensure that children remain safe,” she stated.
👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈
Donald Trump has prioritized mass deportations since taking office.
This hardline approach includes controversial deportations to El Salvador’s infamous mega prison, heightened immigration arrests, and plans to revamp Guantanamo Bay to accommodate thousands of migrants.
On March 15, the Trump administration deported over 130 alleged Venezuelan gang members to the notorious CECOT supermax prison in El Salvador.
Read more:
Is Trump following a right-wing playbook?
How Trump has irreversibly changed the world in 100 days
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Many lawyers and family members of migrants contend that their clients were not part of the Tren de Aragua gang and claim they were denied opportunities to contest the government’s assertions.
There is a separate legal matter involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen residing in Maryland, whom the Justice Department acknowledges was incorrectly deported to his homeland.
