Federal decide halts repatriation of almost 700 migrant children to Guatemala

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A Biden-appointed federal decide abruptly blocked the Trump administration from flying out a whole lot of unlawful alien youngsters over Labor Day weekend after immigrant advocacy teams rushed to court docket, claiming Trump was finishing up a mass deportation in the dark.

The emergency order by U.S. District Choose Sparkle Sooknanan froze a pilot program the administration mentioned would reunite almost 700 children with dad and mom or guardians in Guatemala.

By the point the decide intervened, constitution buses had already rolled as much as planes in Harlingen and El Paso and, in some instances, youngsters have been seated on board awaiting departure.

Justice Division lawyer Drew Ensign informed the court docket, "These should not removals underneath the statute. These are repatriations. All of those youngsters have dad and mom or guardians in Guatemala who've requested their return."

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A relative of an unaccompanied minor deported from the US critiques the record of these deported exterior La Aurora Worldwide Airport, in Guatemala Metropolis, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photograph/Moises Castillo)

Advocacy teams rejected that clarification, with the National Immigration Legislation Heart's (NILC) Efrén Olivares firing again that "it's a darkish and harmful second when our authorities chooses to focus on orphaned 10-year-olds."

The lawsuit, LGML v. Noem, was filed simply after 1 a.m. Sunday, accusing the Trump administration of skirting a 2008 legislation that immigrant-rights teams typically cite to defend minors from removing.

Named as defendants have been Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem , Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEPORTATION OF EIGHT MIGRANTS TO SOUTH SUDAN

Individuals board a aircraft in Harlingen, Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, as 4 constitution buses are pulled into the aspect of the airport to unload dozens of passengers. (AP Photograph/Valerie Gonzalez)

The lead plaintiff was a 10-year-old woman recognized solely by her initials whose mom had died in Guatemala. Choose Sooknanan scolded the Trump administration over the timing, saying in the course of the emergency listening to: "I've the federal government making an attempt to take away minor youngsters from the nation within the wee hours of the morning on a vacation weekend, which is stunning, however right here we're."

The Trump administration insists the flights have been lawful reunifications negotiated with Guatemala’s authorities, whereas advocacy teams argue the youngsters are being rushed out with out hearings or the possibility to pursue asylum.

Individuals await family members from Guatemala deported from the US exterior La Aurora Worldwide Airport, in Guatemala Metropolis, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photograph/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala’s international minister confirmed the nation is able to take the youngsters, with President Bernardo Arévalo calling it a "ethical and authorized obligation."

Unaccompanied youngsters who arrive illegally in the US are sometimes handed over to the HHS' Workplace of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) whereas their immigration instances are ready. These from Guatemala typically request asylum to remain in America.

For now, a whole lot of Guatemalan minors stay within the U.S. whereas the authorized battle performs out. Based on reporting from The Associated Press , members of the family of lots of the migrants had gathered at airports throughout the Central American nation in anticipation of their arrival.