Judge Blocks Trump Admin From Deporting Guatemalan Minors

SEP 18·UPDATED SEP 18

story

Above: A woman shows a cellphone to a Guatemalan migrant deported from the United States inside a bus after his arrival at the Guatemalan Air Force Base in Guatemala City on Aug. 31, 2025. Image copyright: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

A Biden-appointed judge is blocking flights meant to reunify Guatemalan children with their families, forcing them into U.S. shelters instead. This decision is disgusting and immoral — children who could be home are now trapped in limbo. By halting their return, the judge is effectively kidnapping these migrant children, denying them the dignity of rejoining their parents in their own country.

FOX News X

Democratic narrative

The midnight operation violated due process by attempting to deport children without proper legal proceedings, many of whom have pending asylum cases and face genuine safety risks if returned to Guatemala. The administration's false claims about parental requests demonstrate a reckless disregard for children's welfare and legal protections recognized under U.S. and global asylum frameworks.

Politico CNN