The ACLU’s high-profile lawsuit accusing ICE of deporting a U.S. citizen child collapsed this week after it was revealed the child left the country with her mother—not by government force—prompting renewed debate about truth and due process in immigration enforcement.
At a Glance
- ACLU dropped lawsuit alleging ICE deported a U.S. citizen child
- Mother, not ICE, took her child to Honduras voluntarily
- The child had a valid U.S. passport and remains a citizen
- DHS reaffirms commitment to protecting due process for children
ACLU’s Lawsuit Unravels Under Scrutiny
The American Civil Liberties Union withdrew its lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security after the narrative it presented was disproven by documented facts. Contrary to public claims, the U.S. citizen child was never deported by ICE. Instead, her mother, Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela—who had a longstanding deportation order—chose to take her child with her to Honduras.
As reported by The Washington Times, Lopez-Villela, who had entered the country illegally on three separate occasions, opted not to leave her daughter with a U.S.-based guardian. Instead, she presented her daughter’s valid passport at the airport and left voluntarily, fully within her rights as the child’s parent.
Watch the narrative unwind: False deportation claim debunked.
Facts, Not Feelings: DHS Responds
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of DHS bluntly called the allegations “false and irresponsible.” In a formal statement released by Homeland Security, McLaughlin said, “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 lawsuit’s collapse reinforces the government’s longstanding policy of allowing parents in deportation proceedings to decide whether their children will remain in the U.S. or accompany them abroad. In this case, the choice was made clearly and lawfully—despite activists’ efforts to frame it otherwise.
Unmasking False Narratives
The failed lawsuit highlights a growing concern over misinformation in high-profile immigration cases. The ACLU’s initial portrayal fueled headlines but failed under factual scrutiny. “The ACLU dropped its lawsuit on the false claims that DHS deported a U.S. citizen,” McLaughlin added in the same DHS release.
Authorities stress that tools like the CBP One mobile app and existing procedural safeguards remain available to help immigrant parents make informed decisions about their U.S.-born children. Yet these resources are often overshadowed by sensational claims that fail to hold up in court.
As immigration debates continue to grip the national stage, this case stands as a sobering reminder: truth, not theatrics, must guide the pursuit of justice. The public, lawmakers, and the media alike would do well to demand facts before championing narratives that turn out to be fiction.
