Emergency ruling blocks government removal plan
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an urgent order on Sunday preventing the Trump administration from deporting Guatemalan minors. The decision followed last-minute appeals from attorneys who argued that the planned removals were illegal.
Ten children highlighted, protection extends to all minors
The case involves 10 unaccompanied children aged 10 to 17, who lawyers said were hours from being flown back to Guatemala late Saturday. U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan suspended their deportation for 14 days and instructed that they remain in care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She clarified that her order covers all Guatemalan minors currently in federal custody, not just those named in the lawsuit.
Government claims reunification, lawyers dispute
Attorneys representing the administration said the children were being returned to parents or guardians rather than deported. Advocates for the minors countered that many families had not requested reunification. Judge Sooknanan noted the conflicting accounts, saying the government’s explanation did not align with the information presented by the children’s attorneys.
Broader legal challenges and deportation preparations
Similar cases have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, indicating rising nationwide opposition to the removal efforts. Meanwhile, activity at a border airport in Harlingen, Texas, suggested deportation flights were in preparation: buses carrying migrants drove onto the tarmac, security blocked reporters, and aircraft crews completed final checks—all while the court deliberated in Washington.
