A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting hundreds of unaccompanied Guatemalan children, halting flights that were already preparing to depart the United States.

According to court documents, the children were set to be sent back despite ongoing legal and humanitarian concerns surrounding their cases. The judge’s order effectively paused the deportations, citing the need to review whether the removals violated federal protections for minors.

The decision comes amid heightened debate over U.S. immigration policy, particularly the handling of unaccompanied children at the border. Advocates have long warned that deporting minors without due process places them at significant risk of harm upon return to their home countries.

The ruling is expected to spark renewed legal and political battles over immigration enforcement and child welfare.