Court intervenes following urgent legal filings
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Sunday issued an emergency order stopping the Trump administration from deporting a group of Guatemalan minors. The injunction came after attorneys argued that the government was preparing to carry out removals in violation of legal protections.
Ten children at the center, ruling protects all minors
The case concerns 10 unaccompanied children, ages 10 to 17, who lawyers said were hours away from being flown to Guatemala late Saturday night. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan imposed a 14-day suspension on deportations and instructed that the children remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). She made clear that her order applies to all Guatemalan minors held by federal authorities, not just the named plaintiffs.
Conflicting narratives over children’s placement
Attorneys for the administration claimed the children were being returned to parents or guardians rather than forcibly deported. Lawyers representing the minors disputed that, saying many families had not requested reunification. The judge noted the inconsistency, stating that the government’s version did not match evidence presented by the children’s advocates.
Legal pushback grows as deportation flights appear ready
Parallel lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and Illinois, reflecting increasing national opposition to the administration’s deportation plan. Meanwhile, at an airport in Harlingen, Texas, signs of flight preparations were visible: buses carrying migrants moved onto the tarmac, reporters were kept behind security lines, and planes were positioned for departure as crews conducted final checks while the Washington court issued its ruling.
