Federal Court Blocks Deportation of Guatemalan Unaccompanied Minors

A US federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation of a group of Guatemalan children who were already booked onto flights back to Guatemala. The emergency order was issued after their legal representatives filed a last-minute motion early Sunday morning.

The judge, Sparkle Sooknanan, was reportedly awakened in the early hours and issued a 14-day restraining order to prevent the children, aged 10 to 17, from being removed. The order was later expanded to cover all unaccompanied Guatemalan minors under the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, which could involve hundreds of children.

Images from the scene show children and their families awaiting updates amid the legal proceedings.

According to government officials, the children scheduled for deportation had been removed from the planes and returned to HHS custody—though some children believed to be still aboard flights were reportedly being moved back into shelter facilities. The Department of Justice confirmed that no children had yet been deported despite some flights having taken off before returning to the shelters.

Efforts to deport unaccompanied minors have intensified under the current administration, which has sought to return children to their home country, often through agreements that facilitate repatriation. Guatemalan authorities have indicated cooperation, but there are conflicting accounts about whether children have already been sent back.

An attorney from the advocacy group emphasized that deporting children against their best interests violates federal protections, citing risks of abuse and persecution in Guatemala. Several children, including a 10-year-old girl who was detained in Texas, have expressed fears about returning home.

During the court hearing, officials assured the judge that no children had been deported yet, but concerns remain about the ongoing deportation efforts and their adherence to legal protections for vulnerable minors.