CBP Adviser Ron Vitiello: "U.S. Citizen Children Were Not Deported" Amid Immigration Controversy

April 28, 2025 —
In the midst of growing public concern and media scrutiny, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) adviser Ron Vitiello has clarified the agency's actions regarding the removal of three American citizen children alongside their migrant mothers. Vitiello stated firmly that the children "were not deported," seeking to correct what he described as misunderstandings about the situation.

The case centers on three young U.S. citizens — aged 2, 4, and 7 — who left the United States with their mothers, who had been deported under existing immigration enforcement policies. The controversy intensified after reports surfaced that one of the children, a 4-year-old undergoing treatment for Stage 4 cancer, lost critical access to doctors and medication during the removal process.

Vitiello's Clarification

Speaking publicly, Vitiello stressed that the departure of these children was not a formal deportation, noting that U.S. citizens cannot legally be deported. Instead, he explained, the children left voluntarily in the custody of their mothers, who faced mandatory removal from the country. Vitiello acknowledged the sensitive nature of the case and emphasized that immigration officers followed standard procedures while respecting the rights of the U.S. citizen children involved.

"We did not deport American citizens. The children were allowed to depart the country with their mothers. This was not a case of forced removal or deportation of U.S. citizens," Vitiello said.

Political and Humanitarian Fallout

The incident has fueled an already heated debate about immigration enforcement practices under the Trump administration. Critics argue that the government failed to safeguard the wellbeing of American citizen children, especially in vulnerable cases involving serious health conditions.

Human rights advocates warn that policies affecting mixed-status families — where children are U.S. citizens and parents are undocumented — need urgent reform to prevent trauma, health risks, and potential legal violations.

The Biden administration previously implemented more protective guidelines in these cases, but under the Trump administration's new hardline policies, such protections have been weakened, leading to renewed controversy.

The Broader Context

This case highlights the ongoing complexities at the intersection of immigration law, family unity, and citizen rights. Legal experts note that while parents facing deportation can choose to take their children with them, many families feel pressured, with few realistic options.

The public outcry surrounding this case, especially involving a child battling cancer, may lead to further legal challenges and demands for policy changes to better protect citizen children caught in the immigration system.

Conclusion

While CBP officials maintain that no U.S. citizen children were formally deported, the emotional and humanitarian impact of such removals remains profound. As national debate intensifies, the case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost tied to immigration enforcement decisions.

Sources:

• Yahoo News

• The Washington Post