THE WORST OF THE WORST
Trump Just Tried to Illegally Deport 600+ Guatemalan Kids on Holiday Weekend
"It is a dark and dangerous moment for this country when our government chooses to target orphaned 10-year-olds and denies them their most basic legal right to present their case before an immigration judge," a lawyer said.
Migrants deported from the United States in a military plane arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala on January 30, 2025.
(Photo by Josue Decavele/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Jessica Corbett
Aug 31, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
In an effort reminiscent of US President Donald Trump using the Alien Enemies Act to send hundreds of migrants to a Salvadoran prison, his administration just tried to deport more than 600 unaccompanied children to Guatemala over Labor Day weekend—though for now, a federal judge's order appears to have halted the plan, unlike last time.
CNN exclusively reported Friday morning that the Trump administration was "moving to repatriate hundreds of Guatemalan children" who arrived in the United States alone and were placed in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Subsequent reporting confirmed plans to deport the kids, who are ages 10-17.
Fearing their imminent removal after the administration reportedly reached an agreement with the Guatemalan government, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) launched a class action lawsuit around 1:00 am Sunday, seeking an emergency order that was granted just hours later by a federal judge in Washington, D.C.
"Plaintiffs have active proceedings before immigration courts across the country, yet defendants plan to remove them in violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Constitution," NILC's complaint explains.
Efrén C. Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the NILC, said that "it is a dark and dangerous moment for this country when our government chooses to target orphaned 10-year-olds and denies them their most basic legal right to present their case before an immigration judge."
"The Constitution and federal laws provide robust protections to unaccompanied minors specifically because of the unique risks they face," Olivares noted. "We are determined to use every legal tool at our disposal to force the administration to respect the law and not send any child to danger."
Politico's Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein reported on the judge's moves:
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued the order just after 4:00 am Sunday, finding that the "exigent circumstances" described in the lawsuit warranted immediate action "to maintain the status quo until a hearing can be set."
The judge, a Biden appointee, initially scheduled a virtual hearing on the matter for 3:00 pm Sunday, but later moved up the hearing to 12:30 pm after being notified that some minors covered by the suit were "in the process of being removed from the United States."
Sharing updates from the hearing on social media, Cheney reported that Sooknanan took a five-minute recess so that US Department of Justice attorney Drew Ensign could ensure that the details of her order reached the Trump administration—which is pursuing mass deportations. Ensign confirmed to the judge that while it's possible one plane took off and then returned, all the children are still in the United States.
Following the judge's intervention, NILC's Olivares said in a statement that "in the dead of night on a holiday weekend, the Trump administration ripped vulnerable, frightened children from their beds and attempted to return them to danger in Guatemala."
"We are heartened the court prevented this injustice from occurring before hundreds of children suffered irreparable harm," he added. "We are determined to continue fighting to protect the interest of our plaintiffs and all class members until the effort is enjoined permanently."
Experts stunned by Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ plan to deport hundreds of unaccompanied kids"It is a dark and dangerous moment for this country when our government chooses to target orphaned 10-year-olds and denies them their most basic legal right to present their case before an immigration judge," a lawyer said.
Migrants deported from the United States in a military plane arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala on January 30, 2025.
(Photo by Josue Decavele/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Jessica Corbett
Aug 31, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
In an effort reminiscent of US President Donald Trump using the Alien Enemies Act to send hundreds of migrants to a Salvadoran prison, his administration just tried to deport more than 600 unaccompanied children to Guatemala over Labor Day weekend—though for now, a federal judge's order appears to have halted the plan, unlike last time.
CNN exclusively reported Friday morning that the Trump administration was "moving to repatriate hundreds of Guatemalan children" who arrived in the United States alone and were placed in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Subsequent reporting confirmed plans to deport the kids, who are ages 10-17.
Fearing their imminent removal after the administration reportedly reached an agreement with the Guatemalan government, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) launched a class action lawsuit around 1:00 am Sunday, seeking an emergency order that was granted just hours later by a federal judge in Washington, D.C.
"Plaintiffs have active proceedings before immigration courts across the country, yet defendants plan to remove them in violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Constitution," NILC's complaint explains.
Efrén C. Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the NILC, said that "it is a dark and dangerous moment for this country when our government chooses to target orphaned 10-year-olds and denies them their most basic legal right to present their case before an immigration judge."
"The Constitution and federal laws provide robust protections to unaccompanied minors specifically because of the unique risks they face," Olivares noted. "We are determined to use every legal tool at our disposal to force the administration to respect the law and not send any child to danger."
Politico's Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein reported on the judge's moves:
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued the order just after 4:00 am Sunday, finding that the "exigent circumstances" described in the lawsuit warranted immediate action "to maintain the status quo until a hearing can be set."
The judge, a Biden appointee, initially scheduled a virtual hearing on the matter for 3:00 pm Sunday, but later moved up the hearing to 12:30 pm after being notified that some minors covered by the suit were "in the process of being removed from the United States."
Sharing updates from the hearing on social media, Cheney reported that Sooknanan took a five-minute recess so that US Department of Justice attorney Drew Ensign could ensure that the details of her order reached the Trump administration—which is pursuing mass deportations. Ensign confirmed to the judge that while it's possible one plane took off and then returned, all the children are still in the United States.
Following the judge's intervention, NILC's Olivares said in a statement that "in the dead of night on a holiday weekend, the Trump administration ripped vulnerable, frightened children from their beds and attempted to return them to danger in Guatemala."
"We are heartened the court prevented this injustice from occurring before hundreds of children suffered irreparable harm," he added. "We are determined to continue fighting to protect the interest of our plaintiffs and all class members until the effort is enjoined permanently."
'Stop lying, you ghoul': Internet erupts over Stephen Miller's claim on child deportations
Robert Davis
August 31, 2025
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller attends the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with his family, including his wife, Katie Miller, left, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis
The internet erupted on Sunday after President Donald Trump's immigration advisor attempted to smear a judge for refusing to deport hundreds of children in the middle of the night.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, wrote on X that U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan of the District of Columbia was "refusing" to allow hundreds of Guatemalan children to be reunited with their parents. His comments came after Judge Sooknanan issued an order prohibiting the Trump administration from deporting the children.
"The minors have all self-reported that their parents are back home in Guatemala," Miller wrote in a post on X. "But a Democrat judge is refusing to let them reunify with their parents."
Lawyers and legal analysts shredded Miller's claims on social media.
"Stop lying, you ghoul," Timothy Bellman, a Democrat in West Virginia, posted on X.
"Stephen Miller's rant is pure garbage, total fake news from Trump's anti-immigrant goon!" activist Mike Young posted on X. "Judge Sooknanan blocks hasty deports of 700 unaccompanied kids for just two weeks to confirm safe homes, upholding laws you ignore! Your boss separated thousands in 2018, crying wolf now? We defend children from bullies like you, not exploit them."
"Stephen Miller is a liar," immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick posted on X. "Here is a sworn declaration from one of the children saying that their mother is dead and that they left because they suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of their family, including their surviving father. The child wants to stay and seek protection."
"This is devoid of factual or legal relevance," Kyle Cheney, Politico's senior legal affairs reporter, posted on X. "Lawyers for the children say some were fleeing abusive situations, and say the deportation effort was undertaken abruptly overnight and without legally required notice or protections to ensure safety. Whether their parents are in Guatemala + whether admin complied with law are distinct questions for court to resolve."
Robert Davis
August 31, 2025
RAW STORY
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller attends the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with his family, including his wife, Katie Miller, left, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis
The internet erupted on Sunday after President Donald Trump's immigration advisor attempted to smear a judge for refusing to deport hundreds of children in the middle of the night.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, wrote on X that U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan of the District of Columbia was "refusing" to allow hundreds of Guatemalan children to be reunited with their parents. His comments came after Judge Sooknanan issued an order prohibiting the Trump administration from deporting the children.
"The minors have all self-reported that their parents are back home in Guatemala," Miller wrote in a post on X. "But a Democrat judge is refusing to let them reunify with their parents."
Lawyers and legal analysts shredded Miller's claims on social media.
"Stop lying, you ghoul," Timothy Bellman, a Democrat in West Virginia, posted on X.
"Stephen Miller's rant is pure garbage, total fake news from Trump's anti-immigrant goon!" activist Mike Young posted on X. "Judge Sooknanan blocks hasty deports of 700 unaccompanied kids for just two weeks to confirm safe homes, upholding laws you ignore! Your boss separated thousands in 2018, crying wolf now? We defend children from bullies like you, not exploit them."
"Stephen Miller is a liar," immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick posted on X. "Here is a sworn declaration from one of the children saying that their mother is dead and that they left because they suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of their family, including their surviving father. The child wants to stay and seek protection."
"This is devoid of factual or legal relevance," Kyle Cheney, Politico's senior legal affairs reporter, posted on X. "Lawyers for the children say some were fleeing abusive situations, and say the deportation effort was undertaken abruptly overnight and without legally required notice or protections to ensure safety. Whether their parents are in Guatemala + whether admin complied with law are distinct questions for court to resolve."
Daniel Hampton
August 29, 2025
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via CNN)
A CNN reporter said experts are stunned by an "unprecedented" Trump administration move to take steps to send hundreds of Guatemalan children back to their home country after they arrived in the United States alone.
CNN correspondent Priscilla Alvarez joined "News Central" and told co-host Brianna Keilar that it's an "unprecedented move."
"Every expert official that I've talked to can't recall ever seeing something like this — which is the U.S. government working in coordination with the Guatemalan government to send back hundreds of children that are in U.S. government custody," Alvarez said.
She noted that the "reason that this is so unprecedented and unheard of" is that U.S. law provides numerous protections for children who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border alone, meaning they don't have a parent or legal guardian. They are then placed into the care of the Health and Human Services Department. Officials then try to find a family sponsor in the United States, such as a parent, sister, aunt, or relative. Once the child is placed, they typically then learn if they have legal protections in immigration proceedings.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
"So here's where things get different. This is a plan by the administration to send back more than 600 children that they have identified — that are in government custody — to Guatemala. They are expected to not have a parent in the United States and some family in Guatemala," said Alvarez.
While supporters of the plan may say the children are being returned to a parent, Alvarez notes that in many cases, the children are fleeing "bad conditions at home" — sometimes because of a parent.
"That could be because of a parent — those they are fleeing their family there — or it could be because their family can't protect them from what is happening in-country," she said. "It is no small thing for a child to come to the U.S. southern border on their own. And we are talking here about a range of ages from 0 to 17."
Trump's administration is internally calling the deportations "repatriations," meaning they're not involuntary removals. However, advocates have said the children likely don't understand what is actually happening for them to be returned.
"That could be because of a parent — those they are fleeing their family there — or it could be because their family can't protect them from what is happening in-country," she said. "It is no small thing for a child to come to the U.S. southern border on their own. And we are talking here about a range of ages from 0 to 17."
Trump's administration is internally calling the deportations "repatriations," meaning they're not involuntary removals. However, advocates have said the children likely don't understand what is actually happening for them to be returned.
SO LONG JUAN AND MARIA
DEPORTEE; PLANE WRECK AT LOS GATOS
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