Court steps in to halt government action
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Sunday issued an emergency order preventing the Trump administration from deporting a group of Guatemalan minors. The decision followed urgent filings by attorneys who argued the planned removals were illegal.
Ten minors highlighted, protections extend broadly
The case involves 10 unaccompanied children aged 10 to 17, who lawyers said were hours away from being flown to Guatemala late Saturday. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan ordered a 14-day pause and instructed that the children remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She made clear that her ruling applies to all Guatemalan minors in federal custody, not just those named in the lawsuit.
Government cites reunification, advocates dispute
Attorneys representing the administration claimed the children were being returned to relatives or guardians rather than deported. Lawyers for the minors countered that many families had not requested reunification. The judge noted the conflicting accounts, stating that the government’s explanation did not match evidence presented by the children’s attorneys.
Nationwide legal challenges and airport activity
Similar lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, indicating growing opposition across the country. Meanwhile, in Harlingen, Texas, signs of impending deportations were evident: buses carrying migrants moved onto the tarmac, journalists were restricted by security, and planes were prepared for departure as the Washington court issued its ruling.
