Here’s what happened on U.S. immigration, border, and DACA in the past week.
A federal judge in New York temporarily stopped the government from deporting unaccompanied children to Guatemala. The judge “issued a temporary restraining order” after advocates said some kids were already on planes. The order was then expanded to cover all unaccompanied Guatemalan minors in U.S. custody. Children were moved back to shelters while the case continues.
– Reuters
Another federal judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the administration’s push to speed up deportations inside the country using “expedited removal.” The court said the plan “violated due process rights” and was too “skimpy” on protections, risking wrongful removals of people who have lived in the U.S. for years. The administration disagreed and plans to appeal, but the ruling stands for now.
– Reuters
An appeals court also ruled that the government “wrongly ended protections” for Venezuelan migrants. The decision adds pressure on federal agencies to reconsider how they treat certain groups who were covered by special protections. It also feeds a larger debate about what counts as lawful authority in changing immigration rules.
– Reuters
At the border and across the region, flows shifted. A report backed by Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica said more than 14,000 migrants—mostly Venezuelans—turned back south since the latest U.S. crackdown began. Officials said northbound movement has “dropped 97% this year.” People interviewed said they no longer saw a legal way to reach the U.S., so many chose to return home.
– AP News
Politics around enforcement heated up too. In Chicago, the White House talked about expanding operations, and a cabinet official said the president could “decide to deploy the National Guard.” Local leaders pushed back, protesters filled downtown, and the city ordered police not to help with federal sweeps. The fight shows how national plans can clash with local rules.
– Reuters
For DACA, there wasn’t a big court ruling this week, but there were real-life impacts. In Washington state, public radio reported that “starting this week, [some] DACA recipients will no longer qualify for federal health insurance,” though the state will try to keep coverage for many people. Big picture, DACA remains stuck in court fights and still isn’t taking new applications, keeping many young immigrants in limbo.
– KUOW, Reuters
Why this matters: Courts checked several hard-line measures, at least for now. Regional pressure and new rules appear to be changing migrant paths. And DACA recipients continue to live with uncertainty while policies shift around them. As one judge wrote, immigration enforcement cannot trade fairness for speed; people’s “liberty interests” still require real safeguards.
– Reuters
Bottom line: This week brought courtroom brakes on fast removals, a pause on deporting unaccompanied kids to Guatemala, fewer migrants heading north, and ongoing strain over city-level cooperation—with DACA families still waiting for lasting answers.
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