The Trump administration is preparing to send more than 600 unaccompanied Guatemalan children back to their home country, according to reports from CNN.
These minors are currently in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Under a new pilot program, created in coordination with the Guatemalan government, the children will be returned to their families instead of being released into the U.S.
Trump Keeping His Word on Immigration
During the 2024 campaign, President Trump repeatedly blasted the Biden administration for losing track of thousands of migrant children at the border. Trump promised to bring accountability and ensure that these children were returned safely home.
Now, his administration is putting that promise into action. Officials have confirmed this is a first-of-its-kind initiative, halting many child releases to relatives inside the U.S. and instead prioritizing direct “repatriations” rather than deportations.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
As of August 2025, nearly 2,000 children remain in HHS custody, most from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
The Trump administration has also increased welfare checks on immigrant children nationwide and expanded the use of expedited removal proceedings.
Supporters say these moves are restoring order to a broken system, while also protecting children from human traffickers and criminal cartels who have long exploited Biden’s failed policies.
The Left Pushes Back
Not surprisingly, progressive activist groups are lashing out. Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, claimed children face “longer stays in restrictive and developmentally inappropriate settings.”
But conservatives counter that leaving children in limbo in the U.S. is far worse, exposing them to gang violence, exploitation, and trafficking networks. Returning them home, they argue, is the most compassionate and common-sense solution.
What Comes Next
If successful, the pilot program with Guatemala could expand to other Central American countries, strengthening cooperation abroad and sending a clear message:
👉 Under Trump, America is no longer a dumping ground for illegal immigration.
For many Americans, this is yet another example of President Trump delivering on his promises and putting America First after years of chaos under Biden.