Recent deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have sparked significant controversy, particularly involving a Cuban-born mother of a 1-year-old girl and three U.S. citizen children.

On April 24, 2025, ICE detained a second family, and their attorneys reported a lack of communication from the agency regarding their clients.

An attorney attempted to file a stay of removal for the family but was unable to reach them before their deportation occurred.

A federal judge in Louisiana has raised concerns about the legality of the deportation of a 2-year-old child, questioning whether proper procedures were followed and scheduling a hearing for mid-May.

Advocates for the families argue that both mothers wanted their children to remain in the U.S., particularly highlighting the case of a 4-year-old undergoing cancer treatment.

Gracie Willis from the National Immigration Project criticized the lack of fair options provided to the mothers regarding the custody of their children during the deportation process.

The ACLU of Louisiana has highlighted the vulnerability of individuals who comply with ICE check-ins, suggesting that if such actions can be taken against them, no one is safe from similar deportations.

Critics argue that ICE violated its own guidelines regarding the care of minor children during deportations, especially when alternative caregivers were available.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has expressed worries about unchecked government power in immigration practices, emphasizing the importance of the legal system in safeguarding rights.

Erin Hebert, representing one of the families, condemned the deportation as 'illegal, unconstitutional, and immoral,' criticizing the operation's speed and secrecy.

Both families were moved far from their original check-in locations and were prohibited from contacting their lawyers until after arriving in Honduras.

Tom Homan, a former border czar, claimed that the mothers voluntarily chose to have their children deported alongside them, a statement that has been disputed by advocates.