Court intervenes after urgent legal action
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an emergency order on Sunday halting the Trump administration’s plan to deport Guatemalan minors. The injunction followed urgent filings from attorneys who argued that the removals were being carried out illegally.
Ten children named, protections extend to all in federal custody
The lawsuit concerns 10 unaccompanied children, ages 10 to 17, who lawyers said were scheduled for flights back to Guatemala late Saturday night. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan ordered a 14-day suspension of deportations and instructed that the children remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She emphasized that the ruling applies to all Guatemalan minors held by U.S. authorities, not just the named plaintiffs.
Disagreement over reunification claims
Government attorneys asserted that the children were being returned to parents or guardians rather than forcibly deported. Attorneys for the minors disputed that claim, noting that many families had not requested reunification. The judge noted the conflicting accounts, observing that the government’s statements did not align with the evidence presented by the children’s advocates.
Legal challenges mount as deportation flights are prepared
Similar lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, demonstrating nationwide resistance to the administration’s removal efforts. At a border airport in Harlingen, Texas, activity suggested that flights were being readied: buses transporting migrants arrived on the tarmac, reporters were held back by security, and planes were prepared for takeoff while the Washington court issued its ruling.
