Washington-based judge says removals of 10 children would violate US laws and schedules hearing for afternoon
A federal judge on Sunday issued a restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deporting 10 unaccompanied Guatemalan children back to their home country after lawyers said the removals would violate US laws.
The Washington DC-based district judge Sparkle Sooknanan ordered the administration to refrain from deporting the children for 14 days and called for a hearing at 3pm. The National Immigration Law Center, a pro-immigration advocacy group, brought the challenge on behalf of the children, who are ages 10-17.
Donald Trump’s administration struck an agreement with Guatemala that would allow the removal of unaccompanied children back to the country and planned to start deportations this weekend, one current and two former US officials told Reuters. The plans were first reported by CNN on Friday.
Trump, a Republican, kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after returning to the White House in January.
