A federal judge in New York has intervened to halt the Trump administration’s plan to deport dozens of unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, following an urgent appeal from legal advocates. The children were reportedly set to be flown back to Guatemala early Sunday morning, prompting an emergency lawsuit and a swift judicial response.
The National Immigration Law Center filed a class action lawsuit shortly after 1 a.m. ET, claiming they were informed that flights for the minors were scheduled to depart within the next few hours. The lawsuit contended that the administration was unlawfully transferring the children to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation.
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan responded by issuing a temporary restraining order to prevent the deportation of the ten minors, who range in age from 10 to 17 years. Initially scheduled for a 3 p.m. hearing, Sooknanan moved it to 12:30 p.m. after learning the children were already being removed from the country.
The judge expressed surprise at the urgency of the government’s actions, particularly during a holiday weekend. Sooknanan noted discrepancies between the government’s narrative and the information presented by the children’s advocates.
In expanding her order, Sooknanan included protections for all Guatemalan unaccompanied minors under the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which may involve hundreds of children. A government attorney confirmed that the children slated for deportation had been taken off the planes and transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Efrén C. Olivares, Vice President of Litigation and Legal Strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, condemned the actions of the Trump administration. Olivares emphasized the vulnerability of the children involved, expressing relief that the court’s intervention prevented what he described as a significant injustice.
Earlier in February, President Donald Trump had directed immigration agents to locate and deport thousands of undocumented minors who arrived in the U.S. without parents. Reports indicated that the administration had identified over 600 Guatemalan children in U.S. custody as part of a broader agreement with the Guatemalan government to facilitate deportations.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo previously indicated cooperation with the U.S. regarding the repatriation of unaccompanied minors. As of Sunday evening, the Justice Department reported that 76 children were expected to be returned to the Office of Refugee Resettlement by late that evening.
This ongoing situation underscores the complexities surrounding immigration policy and the treatment of vulnerable populations within the U.S. legal system.
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