Judge Blocks Immediate Deportation of Guatemalan Children, Some Taken to Airport
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's immediate deportation of Guatemalan migrant children, causing distress as some were unexpectedly taken from shelters and driven to the airport.
Overview
- A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from immediately deporting Guatemalan migrant children, reinforcing earlier judicial interventions against such expulsions.
- This ruling followed reports of distress, as some children were unexpectedly removed from shelters and driven to the airport for imminent deportation.
- The government had considered deporting hundreds of children, with Guatemala receiving a list of over 600 at risk, despite legal challenges and pending asylum cases.
- Lawyers successfully argued against these expulsions, citing grave risks and the U.S. law's special protections for unaccompanied minors entering the country.
- Guatemalan authorities expressed concern for minors nearing 18 in U.S. custody, as the Trump administration continued attempts to deport unaccompanied children.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, focusing on the federal judge's ruling blocking deportations and presenting arguments from all sides. They attribute strong language to the judge, advocates, and the administration, avoiding loaded editorial commentary. The coverage includes legal context, details from the Guatemalan government's report, and diverse perspectives, including a parent's nuanced view, to provide a comprehensive account.
"Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who was appointed to the bench by President Trump, wrote in a 43-page ruling that the administration's argument that it was trying to reunite a group of Guatemalan kids with family members in Guatemala "crumbled like a house of cards.""
CBS News"The decision by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly comes after the Republican administration’s Labor Day weekend attempt to remove Guatemalan migrant children who were living in government shelters and foster care."
Associated PressArticles (7)
FAQ
The judge noted there was no evidence that the parents of the children sought their return, undermining the administration's claim of reunification efforts, and referenced constitutional protections and legal safeguards for unaccompanied minors.
The administration identified over 600 Guatemalan children in government custody as candidates for potential deportation under a pilot program in coordination with the Guatemalan government.
Guatemalan authorities expressed concern about minors nearing 18 years of age in U.S. custody and had originally proposed the transfer of minors to U.S. Homeland Security officials.
Courts issued preliminary injunctions and rulings blocking transfers, including a case in Illinois that prohibited the transfer of a minor to ICE and ordered information on the child's whereabouts if already transferred, reinforcing protections for children until legal challenges were resolved.
The Trump administration claimed the deportations were aimed at reunifying children with parents who wanted them returned; however, judges found no evidence supporting that claim and blocked the deportations, highlighting legal safeguards for unaccompanied children.
History
- 19h
4 articles