The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in a May 10 press release that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has withdrawn its lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DHS.
“The ACLU dropped its lawsuit on the false claims that DHS deported a U.S. citizen,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The truth is, and has always been, that the mother—who was in the country illegally—chose to bring her 2-year-old with her to Honduras when she was removed. The narrative that DHS is deporting American children is false and irresponsible.”
According to DHS, the parent involved in the case, Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela, chose to bring her child with her to Honduras. ICE policy includes informing parents in custody of their options regarding the care of their children, including whether to be removed together or to designate someone in the United States to care for the child. In this case, DHS states that Lopez-Villela elected to be removed with her child.
DHS records indicate that Lopez-Villela entered the United States without legal authorization on three occasions, in September 2019, March 2021, and August 2021. During her first entry, she and her older daughter were deemed inadmissible and were issued final orders of removal in March 2020. When taken into ICE custody in April 2025, she chose to travel with her younger daughter, a U.S. citizen, to Honduras, and presented a valid United States passport for the child.
The original announcement can be found here.
