A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of unaccompanied Guatemalan migrant children, delivering a rare holiday weekend ruling that underscores the intensifying legal and humanitarian tensions surrounding American immigration policy.

Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan issued the emergency order in the early hours of the morning after being woken at 2:30 a.m. with an urgent filing from attorneys representing the children. The decision prevents the U.S. government from proceeding with removal flights for at least two more weeks while legal proceedings continue.

At the heart of the case is the Trump administration’s claim that it was returning the children to Guatemala in coordination with that country’s government, ostensibly to reunite them with relatives. Attorneys for the children disputed this, warning that many minors faced serious risks—including abuse and neglect—if deported. Some of the children reportedly cited a fear for their safety and said they had no family to return to in Guatemala.

The case unfolded with speed and secrecy. Flights had been prepared from Texas, and families in Guatemala City were reportedly mobilising in anticipation of arrivals. Meanwhile, advocates reported unusual activity, including government agents interviewing children in shelters and abrupt cancellations of immigration court hearings.

Guatemala has stated it is prepared to receive the minors, but only once due legal process has been completed in the U.S. For now, the judge’s intervention has paused a deportation effort that, critics argue, prioritised expedience over protection—adding another legal complication to an already volatile immigration landscape.