Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Deport Guatemalan Kids

Tue Oct 21 2025 04:14:37 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A recent court decision halts the Trump administration's plan to deport unaccompanied Guatemalan migrant children back to their homeland, citing lack of evidence that parents requested their return.

In a significant legal ruling, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly has granted a preliminary injunction to protect Guatemalan migrant children in U.S. shelters from being deported. This decision follows a controversial attempt by the Trump administration to return these children to Guatemala, claiming it was for family reunification. The judge dismissed this rationale, stating there was no proof that the parents sought the children's return. While the directive for deportation has been blocked, the government may still appeal the ruling. Advocates argue that many of these children fled violence and need protection under U.S. immigration laws.

In a decisive move, a federal judge blocked President Trump's administration from deporting Guatemalan migrant children who arrived in the U.S. alone. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled that the administration lacked sufficient evidence to prove that these children's parents were requesting their return. The ruling came after the administration attempted to forcibly return approximately 76 children who were already in shelters.

The ongoing legal battle raised concerns among advocates who argue that many of these minors are escaping violence in their home countries. Judge Kelly highlighted that without clear requests from parents for their children to be sent back, the administration's justification crumbled. The judge extended a temporary order that prevents the deportation of these children indefinitely, though the government retains the right to appeal.

While this ruling is focused on Guatemalan children, there have been calls to extend similar protections to minors from other nations, especially as the government had been speculated to target Honduran children next.