Washington, DC – Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) applauds the federal court’s Aug. 31, 2025, ruling that halted the unlawful deportation of 76 unaccompanied Guatemalan children, many who are members of persecuted Indigenous communities, currently in U.S. custody. This critical decision affirms the heightened vulnerability of children – many of whom fled dangerous circumstances – and their right to seek asylum or other forms of humanitarian protection in the United States.
“Children seeking safety and protection deserve access to due process, legal representation, and to be safe and cared for while their cases are adjudicated,” said LSSNCA CEO Kristyn Peck. “The courts have halted what would have been an unconscionable act -- one that contradicts decades of policy designed to protect unaccompanied children. As a nation that values children and invests in their future, we must model for the world how every child should be treated when they arrive at our doorstep alone.”
LSSNCA calls on elected officials to:
- Uphold legal obligations under the Flores Agreement and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) (Public Law No. 110-457, 12/23/2008) to ensure the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children.
- Guarantee access to legal counsel and due process for every child.
- Center the best interests and safety of children in all immigration decisions.
As an agency that serves unaccompanied children, LSSNCA reaffirms that protecting unaccompanied children is a fundamental duty rooted in both our legal system and moral frameworks.
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