Dark Mode
In a deeply troubling sequence of events that has reignited national debate on immigration enforcement and due process, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deported several immigrant mothers—some within 72 hours—after arresting them at routine ICE check-ins. The women, according to their attorneys, were separated from their young U.S. citizen children, including a one-year-old infant. The deportations are now under scrutiny from legal advocates and civil rights organizations.
Arrests During Routine Check-Ins Raise Due Process Alarms
The deported mothers included a Cuban-born woman with a one-year-old U.S. citizen daughter, as well as two Honduran nationals whose children—ages 2, 4, and 7—are also U.S. citizens. In all three cases, ICE officers arrested the women during standard supervision check-ins and swiftly deported them without allowing time to consult legal counsel, contact family, or file motions for relief.
Attorneys with the ACLU and National Immigration Project characterized the actions as a blatant “abuse of power.” They warned that this emerging tactic—arresting vulnerable immigrants during check-ins and deporting them almost immediately—is becoming alarmingly common and may violate constitutional protections.
Family Separation Persists Under New Policy Conditions
The removals took place amid a broader pattern of escalated enforcement under the Trump administration’s second term. On his first day back in office, President Trump rolled back internal ICE guidelines that previously offered enforcement discretion in cases involving U.S. citizen children or family unity considerations.
Now, under current policy, ICE officers are encouraged to execute removal orders swiftly, even when the individuals involved have deep community ties, pending legal filings, or children who are U.S. citizens. In these recent cases, attorneys allege the agency ignored requests to stay removal until courts could intervene.
The consequences are devastating. Infants and young children are now left behind, with no clear path to reunification, and mothers face life-threatening conditions upon return to countries from which they fled.
What Families and Legal Advocates Should Know
At Spar & Bernstein, we urge immigrant families—especially those with prior deportation orders or pending applications—to be aware of their rights and options. We provide critical legal support for individuals at risk of rapid removal, including:
- Emergency motions to stay deportation
- Reopening in absentia removal orders
- Petitions for humanitarian parole or deferred action
- Strategic filings under U.S. citizen child hardship waivers and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) where applicable
These are not isolated incidents—they are part of an accelerating strategy that demands immediate legal response.
Protecting Family Unity Through Legal Action
Family unity remains a cornerstone of immigration law, yet these cases show how easily it can be undermined without proper legal defense. Rapid removals disproportionately affect women, single mothers, and parents of U.S. citizen children—individuals who often qualify for relief but are denied the opportunity to assert their rights.
If you or someone you know is under supervision with ICE or has a removal order, it is critical to consult with a qualified immigration attorney as soon as possible. The right legal strategy can mean the difference between deportation and protection.
The attorneys at Spar & Bernstein have decades of experience navigating high-stakes deportation defense and reunification litigation. We fight for due process, for family preservation, and for every immigrant’s right to be heard.