Emergency ruling stops government action
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an urgent injunction Sunday blocking the Trump administration from deporting a group of Guatemalan minors. The order followed last-minute legal filings from attorneys who said the removals were being carried out illegally.
Ten children named, order covers all in custody
The lawsuit highlights 10 unaccompanied children, ages 10 to 17, who lawyers said were only hours from being flown to Guatemala late Saturday night. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan halted their deportation for 14 days and instructed that they remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She stressed that the ruling extends to all Guatemalan minors currently held by federal authorities, not just the named plaintiffs.
Disagreement over reunification claims
Government attorneys argued the children were being returned to parents or guardians rather than forcibly deported. Advocates for the minors challenged that claim, noting many families had not requested reunification. The judge observed the conflicting accounts and said the government’s explanation did not match the evidence presented by the children’s lawyers.
Legal challenges grow as airport activity signals flights
Similar lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, reflecting nationwide opposition to the administration’s deportation plan. At a border airport in Harlingen, Texas, activity suggested flights were being prepared: buses carrying migrants entered the tarmac, reporters were kept behind security, and planes were readied for departure while crews completed final checks as the Washington ruling was issued.
