Judge Halts Deportation of Dozens of Unaccompanied Guatemalan Children

Washington D.C. – A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to deport dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children, citing concerns over due process and potential risks to the minors. U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued a temporary restraining order over the Labor Day weekend, preventing the removal of children who were reportedly being prepared for flights to Guatemala. The ruling came after immigrant advocacy groups filed an emergency injunction, arguing the deportations violated federal protections for unaccompanied minors.

The Trump administration asserted these movements were "repatriations" aimed at reuniting children with their families in Guatemala, a claim echoed by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo. However, lawyers for the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) countered that many of the children had pending immigration cases and expressed credible fears of persecution if returned. Some children were reportedly already on planes in Texas when Judge Sooknanan's order was issued, prompting her to move quickly to ensure compliance.

Judge Sooknanan's decisive action appears to draw lessons from previous contentious immigration cases, notably the widely publicized Kilmar Abrego Garcia case. In that instance, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national with protected status, was deported to El Salvador despite ongoing legal proceedings and a court order preventing his removal. He was subsequently held in the notorious CECOT prison, sparking a significant legal battle that saw multiple courts, including the Supreme Court, emphasize the importance of due process and judicial authority.

The administration's defiance of judicial orders in the Abrego Garcia case, initially labeling his deportation an "administrative error" before claiming he was a gang member, underscored the judiciary's concerns about executive overreach in immigration matters. This precedent likely informed Judge Sooknanan's caution and her broad order to protect the unaccompanied children from immediate removal, ensuring their legal rights are fully considered. The temporary restraining order is set for 14 days, allowing time for further legal arguments and review of the children's individual circumstances.