A federal judge issued a restraining order on Sunday, effectively blocking the Trump administration from proceeding with the deportation of 10 unaccompanied Guatemalan children back to their home country. This ruling came after attorneys representing the children argued that the proposed removals would violate U.S. immigration laws.
The district judge, Sparkle Sooknanan, based in Washington, D.C., mandated that the administration refrain from deporting these children for a period of 14 days. A hearing is scheduled for 12:30 PM to further discuss the matter. The legal challenge was spearheaded by the National Immigration Law Center, a prominent pro-immigration advocacy organization, on behalf of the children, who range in age from 10 to 17 years.
Sources informed Reuters that the Trump administration had struck a controversial agreement with Guatemala, which would facilitate the removal of unaccompanied minors. The administration planned to initiate deportations over the weekend, as reported first by CNN on Friday. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has aggressively pursued a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.
In accordance with federal law, children arriving at U.S. borders without a parent or guardian are classified as unaccompanied minors. These children are typically placed in government-run shelters until they can be reunited with a family member or placed in a foster home. Melissa Johnston, the director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s program for unaccompanied children, reportedly sent an email on Thursday instructing staff to pause the release of all Guatemalan children, except those sponsored by parents or legal guardians already in the U.S.
A legal complaint filed on Sunday by the National Immigration Law Center and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights asserted that the planned deportations constitute a “clear violation of the unambiguous protections that Congress has provided them as vulnerable children.” The complaint details the potential risks these children may face if returned to Guatemala, including abuse, neglect, persecution, or even torture, deeming such actions contrary to their best interests.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), did not immediately provide a comment regarding the restraining order. Meanwhile, Guatemala’s foreign ministry has also refrained from making any official statements about the situation.
Judge Sooknanan, who issued the restraining order, was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat. This latest legal development highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policies in the United States, particularly regarding the treatment of unaccompanied minors and their legal rights.
