Judge Halts Immediate Deportation of Migrant Children Amid Legal Battle
In a recent development, a federal judge in Arizona has stepped in to temporarily halt the deportation of dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan and Honduran children by the Trump administration. The move, led by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez, comes amidst rising concerns over the administration’s deportation procedures.
Judge Márquez issued a preliminary injunction, highlighting the lack of thorough preparation by the government for these deportations. The administration has maintained that its actions aim to reunite these children with their parents in their home countries. However, the judge pointed out the absence of any concrete evidence showing coordination between the U.S. and foreign governments or parents.
This legal action, initiated by the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, represents 57 Guatemalan children and 12 Honduran children, aged between 3 and 17. The judge’s ruling extends the protection initially granted through a temporary restraining order issued over Labor Day weekend, which prevents the children’s removal until at least September 26.
“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,” Judge Márquez stated.
As of now, the White House has not provided any comments on the ruling, despite requests from The Associated Press.
The Arizona lawsuit, alongside a similar case in Washington, challenges the Trump administration’s expedited deportation plans for migrant children. Last month, shelters that accommodate unaccompanied minors after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border were informed of imminent plans to send these children back to Guatemala. This included instances where children were already on planes in Texas, ready to depart on August 31.
The lawsuit seeks the government’s assurance that these children can present their cases and have access to legal representation. Moreover, it demands that the children be placed in the least restrictive and most suitable environments for their welfare.
In defense, the Trump administration argues that reuniting the children with their families is in their best interest and aligns with requests from the Guatemalan government.
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