Advocates are uncertain of the whereabouts of the mother and her three children. Advocates say that two of the children are U.S. citizens. AUSTIN, Texas — The attorneys representing an Austin family that was recently deported to Mexico - including two children that advocates say are U.S. citizens - have since shared a statement with additional insight. On Thursday, The Immigrant Legal Resources Center, Texas Civil Rights Project and Austin nonprofit Grassroots Leadership provided details into the deportation of Denisse Parra Vargas and her three children. According to the statement, Parra Vargas was stopped by three DPS troopers on April 30 along Rundberg Lane and Teasdale Terrace in North Austin, not far from Dobie Middle School. The stop was "believed to be concerning expired license plates," but the release states that Parra Vargas was detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She was released later that day, but attorneys say her partner - who was also in the vehicle - was placed into custody. Parra Vargas stated she was told that if she continued to report to appointments at the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) in San Antonio, she would be considered for a work permit. She was also told to attend an alleged hearing for her partner at the Pflugerville ICE facility, where she and her children were then detained, according to the attorneys. Community members were allegedly told that the family was taken to Laredo, Texas, but attorneys stated they were actually placed in detention facilities and deported to Reynosa, Mexico. Advocates said the children - two of whom are U.S. citizens - were detained for a full day instead of having the option to be taken care of by relatives. "ICE was informed by the family and legal advocates that the children were U.S. citizens and ICE knowingly deported them anyway...," according to the statement. In a X post on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security published a statement saying that the narrative that DHS is deporting children who are U.S. citizens is false and that Parra Vargas chose to have her children deported with her. The narrative that DHS is deporting American children is false and irresponsible reporting. Rather than separate their families, ICE asked the mothers if they wanted to be removed with their children or if they wanted ICE to place the children with someone safe the parent… pic.twitter.com/7EofhgIBTb— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 8, 2025 Advocates said Parra Vargas had been living in the U.S. since 2016. Now, they say they are uncertain exactly where she or where her children are located.