U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle Sooknanan has issued a temporary order preventing the Trump administration from deporting a group of unaccompanied Guatemalan minors back to their home country. The ruling comes amidst concerns that the children, who arrived alone in the United States and are currently in federal custody, could face significant risks of abuse or persecution if returned to Guatemala.

The decision was made on a Sunday after reports emerged that several children were already being boarded onto planes for deportation. Advocacy groups swiftly intervened, requesting an emergency injunction to halt the flights. Judge Sooknanan initially granted a restraining order for a group of ten children aged 10 to 17 but later expanded the order to encompass all unaccompanied minors facing potential deportation.

At a hastily convened court hearing, Judge Sooknanan, appointed during President Biden’s administration, expressed her concerns to government lawyers about the well-being of the children. Officials confirmed that while some flights remained grounded, one plane had taken off but returned. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign clarified that the flights were meant for family reunifications rather than deportations; however, advocates challenged this assertion, claiming insufficient parental consent had been obtained for the returns.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and U.S. Justice Department lawyers have indicated that the children were not being deported but were part of a program aimed at reuniting them with family members. Nonetheless, the president decried the administration’s actions and vowed to continue efforts to facilitate the children’s safe return to their families as part of a previously suggested pilot program.

Emotional reunions were anticipated at a reception center in Guatemala City, where dozens of parents had gathered, hoping to welcome their children home. Many expressed confusion and anxiety over the sudden halt in deportations. One mother reported receiving a call from her 17-year-old son, who informed her he was being taken to Guatemala, leaving her uncertain about when she would see him again. Other relatives echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the desperation that led the youths to migrate to the U.S. in search of better opportunities.

Legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policies have intensified in recent months, with advocates calling attention to federal laws designed to protect minors who arrive without adult guardians. They argue that many children have ongoing immigration cases and fear returning home could lead to dire consequences.

Efrén C. Olivares, a lawyer with the National Immigration Law Center, characterized the attempt to deport vulnerable children as a dangerous disregard for their safety. He applauded the court’s intervention, stating that it prevented potential suffering for hundreds of minors.

On the other side, critics, including White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller, labeled the judge’s order as an obstruction to family reunification. He argued that the minors had reported that their families were in Guatemala and that the legal action undermined efforts to reunite them.

As the Trump administration continues its aggressive immigration policies, the case reflects a broader national debate over the treatment and rights of unaccompanied minors in the U.S. Since taking office for his second term, Trump has prioritized deportation efforts as part of a commitment made to his supporters during his campaign, which has drawn scrutiny from various advocacy groups and legal experts alike.