The internet blew up on Sunday after President Donald Trump’s immigration advisor made a claim about a judge who blocked the deportation of hundreds of children.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, posted on X that U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan of the District of Columbia was “refusing” to let hundreds of Guatemalan children reunite with their parents. This came after Judge Sooknanan issued an order stopping the Trump administration from deporting the children.
“The minors have all self-reported that their parents are back home in Guatemala,” Miller wrote. “But a Democrat judge is refusing to let them reunify with their parents.”
Lawyers and legal experts quickly called out Miller’s statements on social media.
“Stop lying, you ghoul,” Timothy Bellman, a Democrat in West Virginia, wrote on X.
“Stephen Miller’s rant is pure garbage, total fake news from Trump’s anti-immigrant goon!” activist Mike Young posted. “Judge Sooknanan blocks hasty deports of 700 unaccompanied kids for just two weeks to confirm safe homes, upholding laws you ignore! Your boss separated thousands in 2018, crying wolf now? We defend children from bullies like you, not exploit them.”
“Stephen Miller is a liar,” immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick posted on X. “Here is a sworn declaration from one of the children saying that their mother is dead and that they left because they suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of their family, including their surviving father. The child wants to stay and seek protection.”
“This is devoid of factual or legal relevance,” Kyle Cheney, Politico’s senior legal affairs reporter, posted on X. “Lawyers for the children say some were fleeing abusive situations, and say the deportation effort was undertaken abruptly overnight and without legally required notice or protections to ensure safety. Whether their parents are in Guatemala + whether admin complied with law are distinct questions for court to resolve.”
