Federal Judge Orders Return of Deported Families Due to Government's "Lies and Coercion"
A US District Court judge has ruled that three families who were deported from the United States to Honduras and other countries must be returned, citing widespread government deception and coercion. The ruling follows an investigation into the Trump administration's 2018 policy of separating parents from children at the border.
The policy, which was implemented under a "zero-tolerance" framework, resulted in the separation of approximately 6,000 children from their parents. A group of families who were affected by this policy are now being forced to return to their countries of origin, despite having been granted humanitarian parole until 2027.
One family, consisting of a woman and her three children, including a US citizen, was deported in July after being ordered to attend multiple immigration check-ins over two months. The mother claimed that ICE officers visited her home and asked her to sign a document agreeing to leave, but she refused. However, the court documents revealed that these visits did not deter the officers from taking the family away, detaining them for three days, and ultimately deporting them.
The judge's ruling states that each of the removals was unlawful and would have allowed the families to remain in the US and access their entitled benefits and resources. The families were forced to leave the country without having any control over the process.
Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union representing one of the families, welcomed the decision, stating that it is a victory against the government's "lies and coercion". He also highlighted the irony that the Trump administration has continued to carry out its separation policy in secret, despite the court order prohibiting such actions until 2031.
The Homeland Security and Justice departments have not yet commented on the ruling.
A US District Court judge has ruled that three families who were deported from the United States to Honduras and other countries must be returned, citing widespread government deception and coercion. The ruling follows an investigation into the Trump administration's 2018 policy of separating parents from children at the border.
The policy, which was implemented under a "zero-tolerance" framework, resulted in the separation of approximately 6,000 children from their parents. A group of families who were affected by this policy are now being forced to return to their countries of origin, despite having been granted humanitarian parole until 2027.
One family, consisting of a woman and her three children, including a US citizen, was deported in July after being ordered to attend multiple immigration check-ins over two months. The mother claimed that ICE officers visited her home and asked her to sign a document agreeing to leave, but she refused. However, the court documents revealed that these visits did not deter the officers from taking the family away, detaining them for three days, and ultimately deporting them.
The judge's ruling states that each of the removals was unlawful and would have allowed the families to remain in the US and access their entitled benefits and resources. The families were forced to leave the country without having any control over the process.
Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union representing one of the families, welcomed the decision, stating that it is a victory against the government's "lies and coercion". He also highlighted the irony that the Trump administration has continued to carry out its separation policy in secret, despite the court order prohibiting such actions until 2031.
The Homeland Security and Justice departments have not yet commented on the ruling.
, folks! It's like, the government's own lies and coercion caught up with them, and now we're seeing some serious accountability 
. I mean, think about it - these families were torn apart at our border, forced to leave behind everything they had built in this country... it's unconscionable 
.
. I mean, we're talking about 6,000 kids separated from their parents - how can you even justify that? 
It's like they thought they were above the law, and that's just not true 
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. The fact that these families are finally being allowed to return to this country, with their rights intact... it's a win for the people, by the people 
. We need more of this kind of accountability in Washington 
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. When gov't lies and coerces families into leaving their homes, it's devastating for those who are left behind 
. Three families being returned home after years away is a step in the right direction 
. But we need more efforts to prevent similar situations from happening again 
Deporting them again is just cruel. I mean, what's the point of even having a system if you're gonna lie to people and take away their rights? 
The fact that they had to leave without knowing what was happening next is just devastating. And for those who were granted humanitarian parole, it's like they're being punished again because the government didn't follow through on its promises... 
It's just not right.
news. I mean, who knew that a judge was gonna come down so hard on the government for their whole "zero-tolerance" policy? It's crazy to think that all those families were basically forced out of the country without even getting a chance to say goodbye to their homes or friends 
. And now they're being told to return, like what? 8 years later 
? I feel bad for them, you know?
. Fingers crossed that this ruling is the start of some real change 
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It's just heartbreaking.
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it's like they're just getting left behind in the whole mess.
. glad someone finally spoke out and put a stop to it. these families deserve justice & a chance to rebuild their lives 
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. And now these poor families are being forced to navigate a whole new country without any control over the process? It's like they're being put through some kind of emotional rollercoaster 
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. It just goes to show how much this government is willing to bend (or break) the rules when they don't want to listen to reason 
. This ruling is a huge win, but we can't let our guard down yet 
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It's not like they were given a fair shot at due process or anything. And now that Trump is no longer in office, why did the government have to keep secretively enforcing this policy?