After returning to office, President Donald Trump swiftly revived immigration tactics that defined his first term—most notably, fast-track deportations of unaccompanied children. Framed as a deterrent to migration from Central America, the policy has reignited clashes between federal agencies, the courts, and child advocacy groups. At the heart of the legal battle is the obligation to protect minors under the 1997 Flores settlement, which limits detention duration and mandates access to basic care. Immigration authorities argue they must also enforce removal orders when children lack legal grounds to remain. This tension has triggered a cycle of shifting policies, emergency lawsuits, and last-minute judicial interventions. Guatemala has emerged as a focal point. U.S. officials have coordinated directly with the Guatemalan government to receive charter flights of deported minors. Migration from rural Guatemala has surged in recent years, driven by poverty, crop failures, and violence. Today, Guatemalan children comprise a significant portion of those held [...]