A U.S. District Court judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to deport a group of unaccompanied Guatemalan children back to Guatemala. This decision was made following reports that the children were being prepared for deportation flights, which prompted concerns from legal advocates regarding the potential risks of abuse and persecution they might face if returned.
The children, currently in U.S. government custody, arrived in the country alone, and their immigration claims are undergoing evaluation. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo and representatives from the U.S. Justice Department have indicated that the intention behind the flights was to facilitate family reunification rather than deportation. In response to the judge’s ruling, President Arevalo criticized the decision and pledged to continue advocating for the children’s return under a pilot program he previously suggested to President Trump.
The legal actions began when immigrant advocacy organizations sought an emergency injunction, fearing the deportation of approximately 600 children who could have been sent back from Texas. On Sunday, Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued a temporary restraining order that initially applied to a group of ten children aged between 10 and 17 and later expanded it to include all unaccompanied children at risk of deportation for a duration of 14 days.
During a hearing, Judge Sooknanan requested confirmation from administration lawyers regarding the status of the flights. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign stated that the flights were not for deportation but aimed at reunifying the children with relatives in Guatemala. However, advocacy groups disputed this claim in specific instances, noting that some children might be at risk should they be returned.
Lawyers representing the children argued that the deportation efforts contravene federal laws intended to protect minors arriving in the U.S. alone, emphasizing that many of these children have ongoing cases before immigration judges and legitimate fears of returning to Guatemala. Critics have raised the alarm over the potentially adverse effects of these deportation measures on vulnerable minors.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy59ppq522o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss