Why a judge blocked the deportation of Guatemalan children and what it means for US immigration policy

Why a judge blocked the deportation of Guatemalan children and what it means for US immigration policy

A federal judge on Sunday temporarily stopped the Trump administration from deporting dozens of Guatemalan children, some of whom had already been placed on planes. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan of the US District Court in Washington issued the order after the National Immigration Law Center filed an emergency petition, arguing that sending the minors back would expose them to danger and violate due process rights. The judge’s ruling applied to all Guatemalan children in federal custody and will remain in effect for 14 days while the case is considered further, the New York Times reported.

Planes ordered to unload children

Initially, immigration authorities moved several children from shelters to chartered planes in Texas, creating confusion about whether the judge’s order covered them. After being alerted, Judge Sooknanan clarified that the ruling applied to every Guatemalan minor in federal custody. The government confirmed later that evening that the children had been taken off the planes and returned to shelters. “I don’t want there to be any ambiguity about what I am ordering,” the judge said, emphasizing that no deportations could proceed while the case was pending.

Legal protections for minors at stake

Lawyers representing the children argued that the administration ignored longstanding protections for unaccompanied minors. Federal law requires that their cases be reviewed individually to assess whether returning them is safe. Many of the children, aged 10 to 16, still have immigration proceedings underway and have told judges they fear harm if sent back. Efrén Olivares, a lawyer for the group, said at least some children had not asked to return, despite government claims to the contrary. “They don’t want to return,” he said.

Government cites coordination with Guatemala

The Trump administration countered that the removals were being carried out at the request of the Guatemalan government. Drew Ensign, a lawyer for the Justice Department, told the court that the goal was to reunite children with parents or guardians in Guatemala. Officials in Guatemala confirmed they were coordinating with the United States to receive more than 600 minors, and said they preferred an orderly, gradual process. The initiative followed a July visit to Guatemala by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Broader impact on immigration policy

About 2,000 children, most from Guatemala, are currently in shelters across the United States. The blocked deportations mark another legal obstacle for the administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement strategy. Only days earlier, a separate court halted rapid deportations away from the border, a central part of President Trump’s approach. Migrant children have long complicated US enforcement efforts, as courts have recognized their special protections and, in many cases, allowed them to remain permanently after proving abandonment or persecution at home.

Political fallout and next steps

The case highlights the clash between federal policy and humanitarian concerns. On social media, Trump adviser Stephen Miller blamed the Biden administration for leaving children in the United States “orphaned in America,” and criticized the judge for preventing reunification with parents. Immigrant-rights groups, meanwhile, called the government’s actions “unlawful and reckless.” Judge Sooknanan, appointed by President Biden, granted the administration permission to file a response later this week. A full hearing is expected soon, with the immediate question being whether the restraining order will be extended.