TUCSON, Ariz. — A federal judge in Arizona on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to remove immigrant children from Guatemala and Honduras, issuing an order that pauses deportations while the court considers a legal challenge.
The temporary restraining order was issued in response to a lawsuit brought by immigrant advocacy groups that argued the removals would harm children and violate federal protections. The order halts the administration’s planned removals of children from the two Central American countries pending further proceedings in the case.
The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lawyers for the organizations that filed the lawsuit said the court action was necessary to ensure that young migrants receive required screenings and protections before any removal is carried out.
The ruling comes as the administration has expanded immigration enforcement measures aimed at rapidly removing noncitizens, including minors, who entered the United States without authorization. Advocacy groups have repeatedly challenged such moves in court, saying expedited processes can bypass asylum screenings and other legal safeguards designed to protect vulnerable migrants.
Legal experts said the temporary order preserves the status quo while the court evaluates the plaintiffs’ claims and the government’s rationale for the removals. The administration could seek to lift the order or appeal the decision to a higher court, steps that would move the dispute quickly through the judicial system.
The case highlights continuing tensions between the executive branch’s immigration priorities and legal challenges brought by civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups. Federal courts have frequently become the forum for resolving disputes over how immigration laws are applied to families and unaccompanied minors, and judges have on multiple occasions issued injunctions blocking specific policies pending fuller review.
Plaintiffs in the current litigation said the rushed removals raise concerns about due process and the welfare of children who may face danger if returned to their home countries. The administration has argued that its policies are necessary to deter irregular migration and to enforce existing immigration laws efficiently.
With the temporary order in place, the immediate removals are on hold while both sides prepare arguments for the court to decide whether a preliminary injunction should be issued for the duration of the litigation. The timeline for such proceedings will be set by the court, and further hearings could determine the course of any appeals and the ultimate fate of the challenged removals.