Judge bars U.S. from deporting group of unaccompanied children to Guatemala
Source: CBS News
Updated on: August 31, 2025 / 12:13 PM EDT
A federal judge overnight barred the Trump administration from deporting a group of unaccompanied migrant children to Guatemala after lawyers argued the effort would skirt legal protections Congress established for these minors.
The plaintiffs in this case are 10 migrant children between the ages of 10 and 17 who entered the U.S. without authorization and without their parents or legal guardians. They're currently in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, which is charged with housing unaccompanied migrant minors until they turn 18 or until they can be placed with a suitable sponsor in the U.S.
Lawyers allege the Trump administration is trying to send hundreds of migrant children to Guatemala without allowing them to request humanitarian protection, even though U.S. law protects them from speedy deportations. They say the children may face abuse, neglect or persecution if returned to Guatemala.
Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued a temporary restraining order early this morning prohibiting the deportation of the plaintiffs for 14 days and has scheduled a hearing for 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/guatemala-children-deportation-judge-ruling/
Short article at post time.
Link to SUIT (just filed overnight) (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360.1.0.pdf
Link to RULING (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360.2.0.pdf

Ocelot II
(127,193 posts)Bayard
(26,974 posts)Either way, how would any relatives even know to meet them at the airport?
This is abuse of minors.
BumRushDaShow
(160,177 posts)Just found a link to the suit that was filed late last night and added to the OP comments. Apparently there were 10 "plaintiff" (children) representing what are apparently hundreds of unaccompanied minors from Guatemala.
Good job IDing the problem.
They were minors.
Crossed the border illegally. With adults, since they didn't do it alone. Yet ...
Without a guardian or parent. And unable to name one.
Who speaks for them? Some "I'm with the government, I first saw Juan Vladimirovich al-Rahim y Chen 2 minutes ago" or somebody who cares for Juan? Really? "I claim this kid ... never saw him before, but I know him/her, parents, goals." Not.
The parents didn't claim to speak for them. Or maybe they died en route so a stranger's in charge of them. What could go wrong, entrusting them to strangers. I can count one one hand those I'd have entrusted my kid to. I'm his father. Maybe, some cousins. Maybe. And I'd be sure to say who they were to talke to. These kids ... no writings, no documents, "take me to my mommy." Except 'mommy' was often some cousin never before seen; whose name might be well mangled.
I teach high school. I'm compelled to complete certain # of 'trainings'--videos + quizzes--each year. For the last 4, 5 years those included "trafficking." I live in Houston, a trafficking "hub" (it seems).
How do 'unaccompanied minors' upon crossing the border, with no parent or declared close relative, not attract suspicion? My training in federal and TX state law ... It's pretty bad. I don't comply, bye-bye income. And maybe, "What's that legal case ... Oh, shit!"
District follows the law. I'm at risk because somebody else doesn't? That's the parents. Sure, I feel sorry. But am I willing to say "ciao" to my pension at 66 and and rely on my $1200/mo social social security with no way to make up for my 'error' so that $1200 is my monthly income (hey, inflation adjusted!) No. I might say "$14,000 ... okay" if there was an actual emotional bond. But some unaccompanied minor in the Houston Chronicle ... Nope. Even then, who'd "give" me a kid when I was already in poverty? And would I learn to resent it/him/her/them?
Granularity. Been there, done that. it sux.