Court intervenes after last-minute legal challenge
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an emergency order on Sunday preventing the Trump administration from sending Guatemalan minors back to their home country. The ruling came after attorneys filed urgent motions claiming the planned removals were unlawful.
Ten children cited, order applies to all in custody
The case centers on 10 unaccompanied children, aged 10 to 17, who lawyers said were hours away from being flown to Guatemala late Saturday. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan suspended deportations for 14 days and directed that the children remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She emphasized that the ruling covers all Guatemalan minors currently held by federal authorities, not just the named plaintiffs.
Dispute over reunification claims
Government lawyers argued the children were being returned to parents or guardians rather than forcibly deported. Attorneys representing the minors challenged that account, noting that many families had not requested reunification. The judge highlighted the conflicting narratives, stating that the administration’s explanation did not match evidence presented by the children’s advocates.
Nationwide legal challenges and airport preparations
Additional lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, demonstrating growing opposition to the administration’s deportation plan. Meanwhile, at a border airport in Harlingen, Texas, preparations for potential flights were visible: buses carrying migrants moved onto the tarmac, security kept reporters behind barricades, and planes were readied for departure while crews completed pre-flight checks as the Washington court issued its ruling.
