The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has withdrawn its lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deporting an American citizen. DHS claims the lawsuit was based on a false account of the voluntary departure of a child with her undocumented mother.
Case Involving Voluntary Departure
One of the cases at the heart of the case was that of Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela, an illegal immigrant who crossed into the U.S. unlawfully three times between 2019 and 2021. She was issued a final removal order in 2020. In April 2025, when retaken into ICE custody, she chose to bring her two-year-old daughter—who holds U.S. citizenship—with her to Honduras. The child had a valid U.S. passport, and ICE officials confirmed the parent opted for family unity over separation.
ICE follows a policy that allows parents facing removal to decide whether to take their children with them or place them in the care of a designated sponsor. In this instance, Lopez-Villela clearly expressed her wish to be removed with her daughter. Despite this, the ACLU pursued legal action, claiming that ICE deported an American citizen against her will—an allegation DHS has since refuted as both inaccurate and harmful.
ICE Defends Child Welfare Standards
Officials at DHS emphasized that protecting children remains a top priority. Every deportation case involving minors is handled with care, and decisions rest with the parents. DHS pointed out that claims suggesting otherwise are misleading and fuel public confusion and mistrust in the immigration process.
To give families more control, the government continues to promote using its voluntary departure tool—the CBP Home app. This mobile app allows undocumented immigrants, including parents, to manage their exit from the country while preserving the possibility of returning legally in the future.
Parental Control and Self-Deportation Options
According to Homeland Security, the CBP Home app is free and available for all mobile devices, offering a convenient path for undocumented parents to make autonomous decisions about departure. This program aligns with President Trump’s overall immigration policy of promoting self-deportation through due process.
Through this tool, the administration is seeking to reduce family separation and promote transparency so that undocumented immigrants can leave voluntarily and legally return if they qualify. The app provides a new path forward on immigration enforcement through informed decisions and family reunification.
False Claims and Policy Impact
ACLU’s dismissal of the lawsuit highlights what DHS depicts as the threat of misrepresentation in court documents. Officials warn that uncorroborated accusations waste public funds and obfuscate sincere policy discussions. By spreading false information, activist organizations undermine public confidence in immigration enforcement.
At the same time, the government holds that all removal decisions are founded on jurisdiction under the law, particularly where there has been serial immigration offending. In the case of Lopez-Villela, her history of illegal presence and an outstanding removal order made her ineligible to remain in the country.
What’s Next?
With the Trump regime continuing to expand stricter immigration policies, such as voluntary departure-fostering practices, the divisive argument of humanitarian concerns and legal obligation can be expected to intensify. DHS confirmed that alternatives are provided to unauthorized parents, and tools like the CBP Home app enable decision-making.
Future trends can emphasize taking deportation procedures further into the light and offering better public exposure to removal alternatives based on familial relationships.
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