The Trump administration’s pilot program to reunite hundreds of Guatemalan children with their families hit a sudden roadblock over Labor Day weekend when a federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden blocked the flights.
Charter buses had already arrived at planes in Harlingen, Texas, and El Paso, with some children seated onboard, as families in Guatemala waited anxiously at airports.
The emergency ruling has left the program on hold, raising questions about the legal and humanitarian complexities of returning minors to their parents or guardians.
The pilot program, initiated by the Trump administration, sought to return unaccompanied minors to parents or guardians who had requested their children’s repatriation.
Officials described the initiative as a lawful and coordinated effort with the Guatemalan government to restore family unity.
Guatemalan Foreign Minister and President Bernardo Arévalo emphasized that receiving the children was both a “moral and legal obligation” for the country.
During an emergency hearing, District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan criticized the timing of the flights, noting the effort occurred “in the wee hours of the morning on a holiday weekend.”
The judge’s intervention came after immigrant advocacy groups filed a last-minute lawsuit claiming the flights violated protections for minors under U.S. law.