(Image source from: Vox)

A mother who was separated from her son by immigrant agents filed a federal lawsuit against the United States President Donald Trump, accusing officials of forcibly separating from her son in the violation of her due process rights.

A native of Guatemala Beata Mejia-Mejia was separated from her 7-year-old son Darwin in May after they crossed U.S.-Mexico border into Arizona following a 2,300-mile trek from her native in seek of asylum.

According to Mejia-Mejia's attorney, immigration agents told him Wednesday that Darwin would be released from a Phoenix-area shelter facility that same day. It was the first time the boy's general location was revealed by officials since the separation, said attorney Mario Williams.

Merely the things changed after a phone call, said Williams and Michael Donovan of Nexus Services Inc., the group funding Mejia-Mejia's legal bills.

"They put Darwin on the phone with her. She was thrilled. Darwin was thrilled to learn he'd be going home," Donovan said.

On May 19, the Guatemala mother turned herself into border agents near San Luis, Arizona asking for asylum, according to the lawsuit. Donovan said what occurred next is "hideous."

"The reason it's horrific isn't just because it's a separation of a family but because Ms. Mejia-Mejia did everything correctly," he said.

However, in the eyes of the Trump administration, Mejia-Mejia’s asylum claim was flawed. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen have said asylum-seekers must present themselves at ports of entry.

"The woman literally walked across three countries. She doesn't have a phone. She doesn't have Google Maps. There's no way for her to tell if she's going to the right checkpoint. She saw the American flag and immediately walked up to an officer and said, 'I need help!' It's a ridiculous way to think she should be punished in any way," Donavan said.

Mejia-Mejia was released from custody pending immigration proceedings last week after Nexus Services Inc. posted bond on her behalf.

By Sowmya Sangam