"(Spencer Platt / Getty Images) Lawyers and advocates fear about 1,000 Central American children, including dozens in California, are at risk of being deported to dangerous situations in their home countries before finishing their immigration court proceedings. They believe the U.S. government is now expanding their list of hundreds of children across the country, which started with children from Guatemala, to include those from Honduras and El Salvador. Lawyers for some children saw their scheduled hearings disappear from the immigration court calendars in recent weeks."
"Many of their cases had vanished from calendars before the Department of Homeland Security placed them on a plane set to return to Guatemala without telling their parents, according to court documents. (Michael Gonzalez / Associated Press) A federal judge blocked the flight in an emergency order as children sat aboard a plane on the tarmac. Many feared for their safety should they return to Guatemala, where attorneys say they face gang violence, physical abuse and neglect."
About 1,000 Central American unaccompanied children, including dozens in California, face possible deportation to dangerous home-country conditions before completing immigration court proceedings. The government appears to be expanding a list that began with Guatemalan children to include those from Honduras and El Salvador. Lawyers report scheduled hearings disappearing from immigration court calendars, and authorities removed 76 Guatemalan children from shelters in Arizona and Texas over Labor Day weekend. A federal judge blocked a flight that had children aboard. Attorneys warn returning children could face gang violence, physical abuse, and neglect. The Department of Justice stated there were "no immediate plans" for broader removals.
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