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📍 Washington, D.C. — A U.S. federal judge has issued an emergency order temporarily blocking the deportation of over 600 unaccompanied minors to Guatemala, following a late-night legal challenge by immigration advocates. The ruling, delivered at 4 a.m. by District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, came amid reports that at least 10 children were already aboard planes awaiting imminent departure.
The 14-day restraining order prohibits the Trump administration from proceeding with any efforts to transfer, repatriate, or remove the children, all of whom are between the ages of 10 and 17. Among them is a 16-year-old mother and her infant daughter. Attorneys argue the children are protected under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008, which mandates screening for trafficking risks and guarantees due process.
The lawsuit, filed by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), alleges violations of both the TVPRA and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. Plaintiffs claim the children were unlawfully transferred from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), bypassing legal safeguards.
Administration officials defended the deportations as family reunification efforts, asserting that many children had consented to return. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo supported the move, stating that families in Guatemala had requested their children’s return.
Critics, however, warn that many minors lack legal representation and may not fully understand their rights. Advocates argue that procedural protections are essential to prevent coercion and ensure fair treatment.
“This is a dark and dangerous moment,” said Efrén C. Olivares, NILC’s vice president of litigation. “Our laws are clear—unaccompanied children deserve the chance to present their case before an immigration judge.”
Excerpts from Jurist.com article by Brendan Hickey | Vermont Law & Graduate School, US
