On , a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a 14-day restraining order that temporarily stopped the Trump administration from deporting dozens of Guatemalan children, directing authorities to return minors taken from shelters and to keep them in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement while the case proceeds.
Key Takeaways
- Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan (D.D.C.) granted a temporary restraining order after an overnight emergency filing by the National Immigration Law Center.
- The order was clarified at a midday hearing to cover all Guatemalan minors in ORR custody for 14 days, and to remove any children already placed on planes.
- Planes in Texas prepared for takeoff with children aboard were told to stand down after the court’s clarification.
- Roughly 2,000 children are currently in federal shelters, most from Guatemala, according to the case record.
- Government counsel said Guatemala requested repatriations and that children would reunite with parents or guardians.
- Children’s lawyers argued many have not sought return and remain in pending cases, raising due process and child-protection concerns.
- Guatemala’s foreign minister said the country expected to receive more than 600 minors, tied to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s July visit.
- The ruling follows another court setback on Friday that blocked rapid deportations far from the border.
Verified Facts
In the early hours of Sunday, Judge Sooknanan granted a temporary restraining order after NILC filed an emergency request. The initial order paused deportations until an afternoon hearing. Confusion over its scope led to overnight transfers of children from shelters to charter flights.
At a moved-up midday session, the judge clarified the TRO applies to all Guatemalan children in ORR custody for 14 days. She instructed the government to remove children from planes and maintain their placement in shelters while the case is pending.
Government attorney Drew Ensign told the court the repatriations were coordinated with Guatemala and aimed at reuniting children with parents or guardians. Attorneys for the children, including Efrén Olivares, countered that at least some minors do not want to return and that law requires a safety assessment by a judge before removal.
Guatemala’s foreign minister, Carlos Ramíro Martínez, said the country had been preparing for the return of more than 600 minors and described the effort as coordinated with the United States, following DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s July visit. About 2,000 minors are currently housed in federal shelters, most of them Guatemalan.
The court allowed the government to file an opposition by Friday. Judge Sooknanan was nominated by President Biden. The action comes two days after a separate judge blocked the administration’s plan to conduct expedited removals far from the border.
| Key Figures | Detail |
|---|---|
| TRO duration | 14 days |
| Children in shelters | About 2,000 (majority Guatemalan) |
| Expected returns to Guatemala | 600+ (per Guatemala’s foreign minister) |
| Children named in suit | 10 (ages 10–16) |
| Location of planes | Texas (awaiting takeoff) |
Context & Impact
Unaccompanied minors present a longstanding legal tension: the government’s enforcement priorities versus statutory protections for children. Under federal law and court agreements, unaccompanied children generally remain in ORR custody until a vetted sponsor can receive them, and many pursue asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile status, or other relief.
The administration’s push to repatriate hundreds of Guatemalan minors—some before individual safety assessments conclude—triggered the legal challenge. The TRO prevents near-term removals, giving the court time to consider due process claims and child welfare protections.
Politically, the ruling adds to mounting legal headwinds for the White House. On Friday, another court halted rapid deportations beyond the border zone, a central pillar of current enforcement strategy. Together, the setbacks may slow removal operations and compel case-by-case adjudication for minors.
The outcome of this case could shape how agencies coordinate repatriations with foreign governments and clarify what evidence is required before returning unaccompanied children to potential risk.
Official Statements
“You cannot remove any children” while the case proceeds, the judge said, emphasizing that the order covers all Guatemalan minors in ORR custody.
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
The government said it is facilitating returns requested by Guatemala to reunify children with parents or guardians.
U.S. Government Counsel
Children’s counsel argued some minors have not asked to return and must receive a judicial safety review before any removal.
Children’s Legal Team
Unconfirmed
- The exact number of children placed on planes before the clarification order.
- How many of the affected minors have pending asylum or SIJ claims.
- Whether every child identified by authorities has a parent or guardian available in Guatemala.
- The specific court and docket in Friday’s separate expedited-removal ruling.
Bottom Line
The court’s 14-day pause halts immediate removals of Guatemalan minors and forces a return to shelters while legal and child-safety questions are adjudicated. What happens next will depend on the government’s forthcoming response and whether the judge converts the TRO into longer-lasting relief.