Judge stops the return of almost 700 migrant children to Guatemala

Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Minors During Labor Day Weekend

A federal judge, appointed by Biden, intervened unexpectedly to halt plans by the Trump administration to deport hundreds of unaccompanied minors over the Labor Day weekend. This action followed immigration advocacy groups filing an urgent complaint, alleging that the Trump administration was attempting a large-scale deportation late at night.

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued an emergency order that paused a program intended to reunite almost 700 children with their parents or guardians in Guatemala. By the time the judge took action, charter buses had already transported some children to airports in Harlingen and El Paso, with some minors even waiting to board their flights.

During the court proceedings, Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign argued, “These are not contingents under the law. They are repatriation. All these children have parents or guardians in Guatemala who requested their return.” However, advocacy groups criticized the impact on vulnerable children.

One attorney, Efren Olivares from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), expressed concern, stating, “It’s a dark and dangerous moment when the government chooses to target an orphaned 10-year-old.” The lawsuit was filed just after 1 a.m. on Sunday. The Trump administration accused advocacy groups of exploiting minors to prevent their deportation.

The list of defendants in the case included Attorney General Pam Bondy and officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Judge Sooknanan reprimanded the administration during the emergency hearing, noting the unusual timing of the deportations, particularly on a government holiday weekend. She remarked, “I am trying to take underage children from the country in the morning,” which raised eyebrows.

While the Trump administration claimed that the flights were part of a legitimate agreement with Guatemala, advocacy groups contended that the children were being sent back too quickly, with no opportunity for them to pursue asylum or hearings.

The Guatemalan foreign minister confirmed the country’s commitment to facilitating the return of children, and President Bernardo Arevalo labeled the effort a “moral and legal obligation.” Unaccompanied minors who enter the U.S. without permission are often placed under the care of the HHS Refugee Resettlement Office while their immigration cases are processed.

Currently, hundreds of Guatemalan minors remain in the U.S. amid ongoing legal disputes. Many immigrant families have gathered at airports in Central America, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.