Federal Judge Halts Deportation Flights of Hundreds Guatemalan Children

A federal judge, Sparkle L. Sooknanan, has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to repatriate over 600 unaccompanied Guatemalan children from U.S. custody, citing concerns about due process violations and potential risk to the minors. The order came amid reports that some children were already on planes bound for Guatemala during the early morning hours of a holiday weekend, prompting urgent legal challenges and multiple emergency hearings. The government claims these actions are reunifications with parents or legal guardians who requested the children's return, but attorneys for the children dispute this, arguing that no proper legal process was followed and that the children may face danger if deported. The judge granted a two-week pause on removals and demanded evidence supporting the government's claims, while lawyers continue to seek a preliminary injunction to protect the children. This legal battle highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies and legal protections for vulnerable migrant minors. The case has drawn national attention, emphasizing the complexities and humanitarian concerns surrounding the treatment of unaccompanied immigrant children.