Lawyers Warn 1,000 Central American Children at Risk of Deportation

Immigration attorneys say nearly 1,000 unaccompanied children from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador — including dozens in California — could be deported before their asylum cases are heard in court.

Concerns grew after 76 Guatemalan children were pulled from shelters in Arizona and Texas over Labor Day weekend and placed on a deportation flight, which a federal judge halted at the last minute. Court filings revealed some parents had not consented to their children’s return, and many feared for their safety due to threats of gang violence and abuse.

California cases: At least 40 children on the government’s removal list live in the state, including foster children in Fullerton and Riverside.
Wider scope: Legal aid groups believe up to 300 Honduran children and 100 Salvadoran children in U.S. custody may be next.
Government stance: DOJ officials claim there are “no immediate plans” for further removals, but shelters have received letters warning of penalties if they do not comply with federal directives.
Legal battles: Federal judges in Arizona and Illinois have temporarily blocked deportations, while lawyers push for broader protections in a Washington, D.C. lawsuit.

Human rights groups cite grave risks if children are returned. A recent U.S. State Department advisory urged travelers to reconsider trips to Guatemala due to violence, while Human Rights Watch documented widespread trafficking and abuse.

“This cruel scheme should shock everyone’s conscience,” said Marion Donovan-Kaloust of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center. Advocates argue deporting children without hearings violates U.S. and international law.

If courts ultimately side with the Trump administration, attorneys warn, the decision could set a precedent for removing all unaccompanied children in federal custody.