WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge's ruling on Thursday has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting Guatemalan migrant children who arrived in the U.S. alone, marking a pivotal moment in a long-standing legal battle surrounding immigration policies.
U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, appointed by Donald Trump, issued this ruling following an aggressive attempt by the administration to repatriate these children, many of whom have been living in shelters and under foster care. Originally, officials sought to justify the deportations by claiming they were reuniting children with their parents who had supposedly requested their return.
However, Judge Kelly refuted this stance, stating, There is no evidence before the Court that the parents of these children sought their return. This assertion reveals the inconsistencies in how the administration has approached the issue.
This legal action followed a notified operation on Labor Day weekend, where shelters were alerted to prepare children for deportation within hours. The administration initially identified over 450 children but later streamlined this list.
The ruling effectively extends existing protections for these youths, following a previously established temporary order against their removal, which was set to expire soon. While the judge refused to extend similar protections to children from other countries at this time, his comment indicated that any unlawful deportation efforts would not be tolerated.
Immigration advocates, alarmed by ongoing reports of potential deportations of Honduran children as well, have consistently argued this campaign violates settled protections for minors fleeing from violence and abuse.
This case underscores the heightened tension within U.S. immigration policies regarding children and the deep-rooted ethical dilemmas of repatriating vulnerable populations.
