A US federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from sending unaccompanied Guatemalan children back to their home country. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued a two-week restraining order on Sunday after advocacy groups warned that as many as 600 children could be deported.

The ruling came as reports surfaced that children, some as young as 10, were already being placed on planes in Texas. The Justice Department insists the flights were meant for family reunifications requested by the Guatemalan government, a claim advocates dispute.

The children are currently in US custody as their immigration claims are processed. Lawyers for the children argue that sending them back would violate federal protections for minors seeking asylum.

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