Guatemala says it is willing to receive hundreds of deported children from US

"Guatemala is ready and willing to receive about 150 unaccompanied children of all ages each week from the United States, the country's president has said, a day after a US federal judge halted the deportation of 10 Guatemalan children. Those children had already boarded a plane when a court responded to an emergency appeal on Sunday. They were later returned to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement."

"Lawyers for the children, aged 10 to 17, argued in court filings that the deportations would be a clear violation of the unambiguous protections that Congress has provided them as vulnerable children. They also said the children could face peril and abuse if they were returned to Guatemala. District judge Sparkle Sooknanan's order halting deportation of the children applies for 14 days while the case is pending."

Guatemala offered to receive about 150 unaccompanied children each week from the United States. A US federal judge halted the deportation of 10 Guatemalan children after an emergency appeal; those children had boarded a plane and were returned to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Guatemala's president said his government coordinated with the US but that decisions on numbers and timing rest with the American government. Lawyers argued deportations would violate statutory protections for vulnerable children and could expose returnees to peril. A 14-day court order halts deportations while the case proceeds and may cover hundreds of minors. The children crossed unaccompanied and are entitled to heightened protections while claims are processed.

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