Federal court steps in amid emergency legal challenge
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an emergency order on Sunday blocking the Trump administration from deporting Guatemalan children. The action followed urgent legal petitions from attorneys who said the planned removals were unlawful.
Ten children named, protections cover all in federal custody
The case centers on 10 unaccompanied children between the ages of 10 and 17, who lawyers said were hours from being flown back to Guatemala late Saturday. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan directed a 14-day pause 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 federal authorities, not just the named plaintiffs.
Disagreement over government’s reunification claims
Government attorneys argued that the children were being returned to parents or legal guardians, not deported. Lawyers for the minors disputed that assertion, pointing out that many families had not requested reunification. The judge highlighted the conflicting accounts, noting that the administration’s explanation did not match evidence provided by the children’s advocates.
Nationwide legal challenges emerge as deportation flights loom
Additional lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, reflecting growing opposition to the administration’s removal plan. Meanwhile, at a border airport in Harlingen, Texas, signs of imminent flights were evident: buses transporting migrants moved onto the tarmac, security kept reporters behind barricades, and planes were readied for departure as crews completed pre-flight checks while the Washington court issued its ruling.
