New Mexico AG Sues CYFD Over Alleged Forced Removal of Teen to Mexico
The New Mexico Attorney General is suing the state's Children, Youth and Families Department to ensure the return of a 15-year-old U.S. citizen who was allegedly taken to a Texas border crossing and forced to walk into Mexico to reunite…
Philadelphia, PA, July 30, 2026 —
SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). The legal action aims to secure the return of a 15-year-old U.S. citizen who was allegedly escorted to a Texas border crossing and compelled to enter Mexico to reunite with his mother.
The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Raúl Torrez, also seeks to establish safeguards that would prevent the future removal of children from the United States without prior court authorization. Details regarding the specific circumstances of the teen’s alleged removal, including the exact date and the names of CYFD employees involved, were not immediately available.
The core of the legal challenge centers on the department’s actions and procedures in facilitating the departure of a minor U.S. citizen into a foreign country. The Attorney General’s office is asserting that such actions are unlawful and potentially endanger children under state care.
This legal maneuver underscores concerns about the protocols governing the reunification of children in state custody with their families, particularly when international borders are involved. The lawsuit is expected to bring greater scrutiny to the CYFD’s policies and practices concerning child welfare and inter-state, as well as international, transfers.
The specific outcome sought by the Attorney General includes the immediate return of the 15-year-old to the United States and injunctive relief to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The legal proceedings will likely involve a review of state and federal laws pertaining to child welfare, parental rights, and border procedures.
The Children, Youth and Families Department has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the lawsuit. The case is proceeding through the New Mexico court system.
Story summarized from the original created by MIKELLA SCHUETTLER on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
