TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge in Arizona temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing dozens of Guatemalan and Honduran children living in shelters or foster care after coming to the U.S. alone, according to a decision Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez in Tucson extended until at least Sept. 26 a temporary restraining order issued over the Labor Day weekend. Márquez raised concern over whether the government had arranged for any of the children’s parents or legal guardians in Guatemala to take custody of them.
Lawyers representing the children asserted in court that their clients had expressed fears about returning home due to potential neglect, risks of child trafficking, and existing medical conditions. A legal aid group filed a lawsuit in Arizona on behalf of 57 Guatemalan children and another 12 from Honduras, aged between 3 and 17.
Assistant U.S. attorney Denise Ann Faulk defended the administration's actions, claiming the repatriations were coordinated through international diplomacy, aimed at reuniting children with their families. However, Judge Márquez emphasized that the children are entitled to legal counsel and the opportunity to present their cases to an immigration judge, concerns echoed in lawsuits from Illinois and Washington, D.C. seeking similar protections.
The legal framework regarding unaccompanied minors includes a requirement for children from countries other than Canada and Mexico to see an immigration judge, with many typically being released to family members during the adjudication of their cases.
Despite the advocacy for children's rights, the government insists its intentions revolve around safety and reunification, stating it is crucial to investigate situations involving unaccompanied minors adequately.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez in Tucson extended until at least Sept. 26 a temporary restraining order issued over the Labor Day weekend. Márquez raised concern over whether the government had arranged for any of the children’s parents or legal guardians in Guatemala to take custody of them.
Lawyers representing the children asserted in court that their clients had expressed fears about returning home due to potential neglect, risks of child trafficking, and existing medical conditions. A legal aid group filed a lawsuit in Arizona on behalf of 57 Guatemalan children and another 12 from Honduras, aged between 3 and 17.
Assistant U.S. attorney Denise Ann Faulk defended the administration's actions, claiming the repatriations were coordinated through international diplomacy, aimed at reuniting children with their families. However, Judge Márquez emphasized that the children are entitled to legal counsel and the opportunity to present their cases to an immigration judge, concerns echoed in lawsuits from Illinois and Washington, D.C. seeking similar protections.
The legal framework regarding unaccompanied minors includes a requirement for children from countries other than Canada and Mexico to see an immigration judge, with many typically being released to family members during the adjudication of their cases.
Despite the advocacy for children's rights, the government insists its intentions revolve around safety and reunification, stating it is crucial to investigate situations involving unaccompanied minors adequately.
