The Trump administration claims they were returning Guatemalan children, who were in the U.S. illegally, back to their homeland at the behest of their parents and the Guatemalan government. However, immigration advocacy groups argue that these were illegal deportations, executed under the cover of night.

Regardless of the truth, flights have been temporarily halted due to a restraining order issued Sunday by a judge appointed by President Biden, even as children were already buckled into their seats.

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan’s emergency order paused a pilot initiative claimed by the administration to potentially reunite nearly 700 children with parents or guardians in Guatemala.

When the judicial interruption occurred, charter buses had brought the children to planes stationed in Harlingen and El Paso, and many were already on board, ready to embark on their journey.

According to Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign, “These are not deportations as per statutory definitions. They are repatriations. Each of these children has a parent or guardian in Guatemala who has requested that they be returned.”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was outraged by this intervention, arguing that it strips the children of the chance to be reunited with their families:

It’s actually much worse than even that. These smuggled migrant children were orphaned in America by the Biden Administration. The minors have all self-reported that their parents are back home in Guatemala. But a Democrat judge is refusing to let them reunify with their parents. https://t.co/o3h6e0YsMC

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) August 31, 2025