A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting dozens of Guatemalan minors, even though they were already loaded onto planes, and also it has been demanded assurances that they would remain in shelters until a more permanent ruling. The judge ordered that the kids remain in shelters for at least two weeks while the case is reviewed, stressing that the government cannot remove any minors in the meantime.
Lawyers argued that sending the children back would put them in danger and ignore the legal protections minors are entitled to. Some of the children also told the court they don’t want to return. The administration claimed the deportations were meant to reunite the kids with their parents in Guatemala, but advocates said many still have pending cases and could be at risk if returned.
This ruling is a setback for Trump’s broader deportation push and highlights the ongoing tension over how the U.S. handles unaccompanied migrant children, most of whom come from Central America.
It is relevant to point out that Carlos Ramíro Martínez, Guatemala’s minister of foreign affairs, said on Friday that his country had been coordinating with the United States and expected to receive more than 600 minors in a gradual and organized manner. In addition, authorities are very concerned that the children could be returned to unsafe situations.
Source: Jordan, M., & Kavi, A. (2025, August 31). Judge Temporarily Blocks Removal of Guatemalan Children. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08/31/us/trump-news