In brief
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez has issued a preliminary injunction halting the deportation of over 60 unaccompanied minors from Guatemala and Honduras. The judge raised concerns over the lack of coordination with the children's parents abroad and the government’s justification for their deportation. This ruling extends protection until at least September 26, giving the children time to present their cases legally.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge in Arizona on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from immediately deporting dozens of Guatemalan and Honduran children who came to the U.S. alone.U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez in Tucson granted a preliminary injunction, citing concerns about the steps the government had taken to prepare to deport the children.“The foundation of Defendants’ argument for their authority to transport Plaintiffs out of the United States is that Defendants are reuniting Plaintiff Children with parents abroad, but counsel could not identify a single instance of coordination between a parent and any government—American or Guatemalan,” she wrote.The ruling extends the protection for the children living in shelters or foster care after Márquez issued a temporary restraining order over Labor Day weekend. The order was meant to keep the children from being removed until at least Sept. 26.The lawsuit was filed by the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project on behalf of 57 Guatemalan children and another 12 from Honduras between the ages of 3 and 17.The White House did not respond immediately to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment.This lawsuit and a related one filed in Washington were in response to the Trump administration’s efforts to swiftly deport Guatemalan migrant children. Last month, the administration notified shelters housing the minors that they would be sent back to Guatemala, often with mere hours notice. Some children were even on planes ready for departure in Texas before the legal interruptions took effect.The Arizona lawsuit is seeking to allow the children a chance to present their cases and access to legal counsel, while ensuring they are placed in settings that prioritize their best interests. Meanwhile, the Trump administration maintains that these efforts aim to reunite children with their families, supposedly aligning with the best interests of the minors and the Guatemalan government's directives.
