FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 27, 2025
Media contact: media@justiceinmotion.org; media@nipnlg.org
NEW YORK – Justice in Motion and National Immigration Project strongly condemn the recent deportations of U.S. citizen children and their mothers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), actions that starkly violate constitutional protections and basic human rights.
Four children, including three who are US citizens – ages 2, 4, and 7 – were deported alongside their mothers, who were held incommunicado prior to removal. These families were detained during routine immigration check-ins in New Orleans, Louisiana, denied access to legal counsel, and swiftly deported without due process.
Gracie Willis, National Immigration Project: “What we saw from ICE over the last several days is horrifying and baffling. Families have been ripped apart unnecessarily. These mothers had no opportunity to speak with their co-parents to make the kinds of choices that parents are entitled to make for their children, the kinds of decisions that millions of parents make every day: ‘what is best for our child?’ We should be gravely concerned that ICE has been given tacit approval to both detain and deport US citizen children despite the availability and willingness of US-based caregivers who, only because of ICE’s own actions, cannot find or contact them.”
Cathleen Caron, Justice in Motion: “The forced deportation of US citizen children without due process is not only illegal but morally reprehensible. These actions reflect a disturbing disregard for the rule of law and the fundamental rights of families. Due process is not optional – it is a cornerstone of democracy. Justice in Motion stands in solidarity with our partners in demanding immediate accountability and the safe return of these children to their rightful home.”
We also recognize the urgent needs these families now face. Through collaborations with our US-based legal teams, partner organizations, and Justice in Motion’s Defender Network – locally-led human rights lawyers and organizations in Mexico and Central America – we will actively explore every possible avenue to safeguard the families’ immediate safety and well-being in Honduras, as well as provide cross-border support, advocacy, and legal action as necessary.
We call upon the federal government to:
- Ensure the return of the deported US citizen children and their families.
- Conduct a thorough investigation into these deportations and hold those responsible accountable.
- Implement safeguards to prevent future violations of due process and constitutional rights.
These families deserve justice. The US public deserves answers.
For all media inquiries, please contact media@justiceinmotion.org or media@nipnlg.org.
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Justice in Motion protects migrant rights by ensuring justice across borders. Our unique network of on-the-ground human rights defenders in Mexico and Central America partner with US advocates to make sure that wherever migrants go, their rights will follow.
National Immigration Project is a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who believe that all people should be treated with dignity, live freely, and flourish. We litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those most harmed by the criminal and immigration systems are uplifted and supported. Learn more at nipnlg.org. Follow National Immigration Project on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @NIPNLG.