Marco Rubio Responds to Allegations of Deporting U.S. Citizen Minors Without Due Process

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly rejected allegations that three U.S. citizen minors were deported without due process. The accusations, which describe children under ten years old, including a four-year-old suffering from stage IV cancer, were labeled as “misleading” by Rubio.

The claims originated from a report by The Washington Post, detailing how three American minors aged two, four, and seven were deported alongside their mothers from a Louisiana facility on a recent Friday. The family’s lawyer indicated that the four-year-old child, battling cancer, was left without a means to communicate with medical professionals after the deportation.

Rubio’s Defense Against the Claims

Rubio counters these allegations by asserting that the children accompanied their mothers, who were in the country illegally, choosing to leave together. He stated, “That’s a misleading headline. Three U.S. citizens, aged 4, 7, and 2 were not deported. Their mothers were legally deported, and the children went with their mothers. They can come back to their father or someone who wants to assume them. Ultimately, it was the mothers who were here illegally.”

Rubio criticized the narrative propagated by the media, insisting that the scenario was portrayed inaccurately. According to him, the implication that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) forcibly deported these children is unfounded. He said, “You guys make it sound like ICE kicked down the door and grabbed the child and threw them on an airplane, and it’s misleading and that is not true.”

Judicial Doubts on Government Claims

Despite Rubio’s strong assertions, U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty expressed skepticism towards the government’s narrative. Following an emergency order submitted by the father of the two-year-old girl, Judge Doughty highlighted his “strong suspicion” that the government had indeed deported a U.S. citizen without providing meaningful due process.

The family’s legal representatives noted that the child had accompanied her mother to an immigration meeting that was crucial for her to remain in the community under an Intensive Supervision Appearance Program. This prompted concerns about the procedural correctness of the deportation.

The Court’s Concerns

Judge Doughty articulated his reservations in writing, stating, “The government contends that this is all okay because the mother wishes that the child be deported with her, but the court doesn’t know that.” Such statements underscore the ambiguity surrounding consent in these deportation scenarios.

The Family’s Plea for Justice

Family lawyers for the deported minors allege that the father had a mere minute to speak with the child’s mother before their phone call was abruptly terminated by ICE agents. The next day, the girl was deported to Honduras alongside her mother.

These incidents have sparked outrage and calls for more humane immigration policies, particularly concerning the treatment of minors in such situations. Advocates argue that emotional connections between parents and children must be respected, especially in circumstances where due process appears lacking.

The Importance of Due Process

Rubio remained adamant that the focus should solely be on the mothers, who are undocumented immigrants. He reiterated that children should not be negatively impacted by their parents’ legal status. According to Rubio, parent-led decisions regarding deportation should be respected while ensuring the children’s rights are not overlooked.

He emphasized, “If someone is in this country unlawfully, illegally that person gets deported. If that person is with a 2-year-old child and says I want to take my child with me, then you have two choices. You can say yes, of course, you can take your child whether they’re a citizen or not, because it is your child. Or say yes, you can go, but your child must stay behind.”

The Wider Implications

This incident serves as a critical reminder of the complexities involved in immigration enforcement, especially as it pertains to minors. The discourse surrounding these events highlights the need for comprehensive immigration reform—one that considers both the rule of law and the humanity of all individuals involved.

As the nation grapples with these immigration challenges, it is essential for officials to ensure that due process is preserved for everyone, particularly the most vulnerable among us. The dialogue around these lawsuits and accusations ultimately reflects broader societal challenges, as well as the ongoing debate over immigration policy and enforcement in the United States.