Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Deportation of Guatemalan Minors

Thu Sep 18 2025 20:55:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant ruling, a federal judge has halted the Trump administration's immediate deportation efforts to return Guatemalan migrant children to their home country, citing concerns for their safety and well-being.

A U.S. District Judge has granted a preliminary injunction preventing the deportation of Guatemalan migrant children who arrived alone in the U.S. This decision follows attempts by the Trump administration to swiftly deport these children back to Guatemala without adequate evidence of parental requests. The ruling highlights ongoing legal battles related to the administration's contentious immigration policies.

In a striking ruling, a federal judge has stepped in to block the Trump administration's immediate deportation of Guatemalan migrant children who entered the United States without their parents. This decision is seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing judicial battle surrounding the administration's aggressive immigration policies.

U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly made this ruling shortly after the administration's abrupt plan to deport these children surfaced during the Labor Day weekend. The judge noted that an initial justification from officials, claiming they were reuniting the children with parents who wished for their return, lacked credible evidence. There is no evidence before the Court that the parents of these children sought their return, Kelly stated.

A temporary order already preventing the removal of Guatemalan minors was set to expire soon. Refusing to allow the administration's actions to proceed, Judge Kelly issued a preliminary injunction that extends protection for the children indefinitely, although the government may still appeal this decision.

Despite advocating for broader protections for children from other countries, Judge Kelly limited his ruling to Guatemalan minors, emphasizing that any future deportation attempts of those children might be unlawful.

Documents indicated that the administration had identified 457 children for potential removal but ultimately planned to deport 327. On August 30, children were reportedly transported from shelters to airports, with some boarding planes before the legal intervention occurred.

Advocates for child welfare swiftly moved to file lawsuits against the Trump administration, emphasizing that many of these children were fleeing from substantial violence and abuse in their home countries. Their legal actions aimed to protect these vulnerable minors from being returned to environments where their safety could be jeopardized.

This ruling arrives amid other temporary restraining orders in different jurisdictions, underscoring the increasing scrutiny of the administration's broader immigration practices.

Federal custody typically involves children being transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, where they usually reside in controlled shelters until placed with sponsors.