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Federal Judge Halts U.S. Plan to Return 600 Guatemalan Children for 14 Days

The order pauses transfers pending a NILC class action challenging the administration’s mass-return effort.

Overview

  • A Washington, D.C., district judge issued a 25-page order suspending transfer, repatriation and transport of more than 600 unaccompanied Guatemalan minors for 14 days.
  • The National Immigration Law Center filed a class-action lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on the children’s behalf, alleging the removals would endanger them and violate their rights.
  • NILC said flights were halted following the injunction, including at least one plane that was recalled after takeoff.
  • The children were slated for return under a U.S.-Guatemala arrangement that officials describe as facilitating reunification with families.
  • In a separate case days earlier, another federal judge blocked an expedited-removal process at the U.S.-Mexico border on constitutional grounds.