The government has argued that the children are simply being reunited with their parents. But Sooknanan reads from a series of declarations that seem inconsistent with that claim.
Replies
This is a classic example of what happens when conservative bad faith bullshit hits the buzzsaw of real life courts and law. Put your kitchen sink away and pick an actual claim of what you say happened and tell it to the judge and prove it
aug 31, 2025, 10:07 pm • 1 0 • view
In one, the child says that her parents [in Guatemala] recently received a strange call from someone with the US government, telling them that he or she would be deported with a larger group of people. "Since my parents told me this news, I feel terrible," the declarant says.
aug 31, 2025, 5:56 pm • 883 95 • view
Is the U.S. a human trafficking facilitator? Is that what's going on? This will stain us all Not just Trumpers.
aug 31, 2025, 6:49 pm • 3 0 • view
People will genuinely wonder why we didn't drop everything we're doing to stop this. They will correctly wonder if we secretly support it, and ask whether distinguishing between support and tolerance matters in the end. Insane.
aug 31, 2025, 6:49 pm • 0 0 • view
Sooknanan: Every one of these 10 children who are named plaintiffs speak about being afraid of going back to Guatemala. She reads a series of quotes in which the children express being afraid of return because they experienced neglect or abuse from one or both of their parents.
aug 31, 2025, 5:58 pm • 940 125 • view
Is this not them? bsky.app/profile/jjin...
aug 31, 2025, 6:00 pm • 22 11 • view
wow, the government is just straight up lying to the judge.
aug 31, 2025, 6:03 pm • 2 0 • view
That seems to be a pattern, but not proven here yet
aug 31, 2025, 6:04 pm • 2 0 • view
To be clear: we have no way of knowing who is on these jets right now. I’m just reporting that these are the 3 planes that I see under ICE Air contract flying to Central America today. There’s also a 767 that has been sitting on the tarmac in South Texas for a couple days now, watching that one 👀
aug 31, 2025, 6:10 pm • 11 1 • view
I don't want to post misinfo, so let me know if I should delete The timing seems odd, but I know there are a *lot* of these flights (because I follow your account. Thanks)
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 1 0 • view
I appreciate all that you do. Today all we can do is hope that the US is telling the truth via Drew Ensign. And that statement will never fill me with anything I could describe as a “warm fuzzy feeling” but that’s where we are. Again.
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Oh FFS - seriously?
aug 31, 2025, 6:02 pm • 5 0 • view
Not trying to spread misinfo. Just doesn't look good though that this is happening while the court is in session
aug 31, 2025, 6:02 pm • 8 0 • view
It would not shock me if the administration ignored court orders (again)
aug 31, 2025, 6:06 pm • 1 0 • view
Holy moley, I hope not!
aug 31, 2025, 6:02 pm • 1 0 • view
bsky.app/profile/jjin...
aug 31, 2025, 6:08 pm • 1 0 • view
there’s probably other uncontested deportation flights to guatemala going on now, safest assumption is probably that’s what these are
aug 31, 2025, 6:07 pm • 3 0 • view
Why is the US government permitted to commit perjury over and over again without consequences?
aug 31, 2025, 6:08 pm • 9 0 • view
Weasl words . . .
aug 31, 2025, 6:31 pm • 0 0 • view
Anna, thank you for covering this.
aug 31, 2025, 6:03 pm • 7 0 • view
Will the Gov claim they were coached to say this? Thanks, Anna.
aug 31, 2025, 6:05 pm • 2 0 • view
When she's done reading select quotes from the plaintiff's declarations, Judge Sooknanan sums it up as follows: "And so this doesn't quite line up with what I'm hearing from the government.
aug 31, 2025, 6:04 pm • 1,010 192 • view
Would DOJ stretch truth?
aug 31, 2025, 6:05 pm • 2 0 • view
My God! We live in such a world that ten year olds are having to seek counsel and go to law in order to have what are essentially child protection matters fairly processed. What manner of creature in the government wants to conduct a fast clandestine deportation of children at risk?
aug 31, 2025, 6:35 pm • 22 0 • view
Ask Stephen Miller.
aug 31, 2025, 7:24 pm • 10 0 • view
Hmm .. I am not sure my parents brought me up to talk to that sort of creature. As a safety precaution I might insist on meeting on sacred ground, with a font of Holy Water, and a mirror as a backup test.
aug 31, 2025, 7:41 pm • 4 0 • view
Proving yet again that this Administration's immigration roundup was never about combating crime, but about abject cruelty and committing crimes against humanity.
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 36 8 • view
Jesus…
aug 31, 2025, 8:20 pm • 1 0 • view
Judge Sooknanan is a Real American Shero!💚🔥💚
aug 31, 2025, 8:41 pm • 8 0 • view
She's wise to doubt the truthfulness of Trump's DOJ and the Trumpian defendants.
sep 1, 2025, 12:16 am • 4 0 • view
Judge Sooknanan to Ensign: "This is why we have process. This is why we have courts." Then she says that she also took the opportunity to look at the provision that Ensign cited. "I'm pretty skeptical that it gives the government the authority to do what you are claiming it does," she says.
aug 31, 2025, 6:05 pm • 931 119 • view
Judge Sooknanan: For unaccompanied minors in particular, there are special procedural protections under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act...that's because this population is incredibly vulnerable. I don't see anything in what you're citing that would override those protections.
aug 31, 2025, 6:07 pm • 981 137 • view
Judge Sooknanan says that she will wait to see Ensign's brief but at this point she's not seeing anything that would displace the statutory protections she just mentioned. Further, she says, I know it's extraordinary to enter a TRO on an ex parte basis. But I felt the situation was imminent...
aug 31, 2025, 6:09 pm • 709 56 • view
Good for her.
sep 1, 2025, 7:58 am • 0 0 • view
Imminence pervades lawless power
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 2 0 • view
I'll say again, if this operation were legit the government would announce it in advance. Press would be encouraged to film happy children boarding planes to see their parents. It would not be done by weekend secret sneak flights. We see no pics because the kids are shackled.
aug 31, 2025, 6:17 pm • 26 2 • view
And how did the children get separated from their parents to start with ? When it comes to this administration and unification of children I don’t believe a single word. They can’t be trusted. They couldn’t reunite the ones they separated during the sessions era
aug 31, 2025, 10:50 pm • 1 0 • view
Tots norm for the G to schedule child deportation flights at crack o dawn Labor Day Sunday, no OT costs, etc etc
sep 1, 2025, 10:54 am • 0 0 • view
Judge Sooknanan: As I said at the start of this hearing, I got a call at 2:36 am [last night] because the government chose the wee hours of the morning on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend to execute a plan to move these children. That's why we're here.
aug 31, 2025, 6:10 pm • 3,460 904 • view
Repubcans are brave when attacking, abusing and murdering children.
aug 31, 2025, 7:47 pm • 15 3 • view
It was no “accident” that it was the wee hours; they likely thought no way would you pick up.
aug 31, 2025, 7:01 pm • 30 3 • view
People who do things in the wee hours of the morning may be trying to hide something. IMHO.
sep 1, 2025, 5:46 am • 0 0 • view
Russian-style evil
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 28 0 • view
You expect the Administration (actually the last several) to care about deporting kids? They won't lift a finger to protect kids from mass shooting, you think deporting is a high bar.
aug 31, 2025, 11:11 pm • 2 0 • view
Trying to remove children in the middle of the night...If they thought it was a legal act, they'd do it in broad daylight. But they're clearly trying to get away with something. Kind of like ICE wearing masks and not showing ID. My question is, Why aren't they charged?
aug 31, 2025, 9:01 pm • 15 2 • view
They're so warped that if they aren't doing the slimiest, most dishonest thing possible, they feel like they are failing their cult leader
aug 31, 2025, 6:55 pm • 14 1 • view
Sad
aug 31, 2025, 9:43 pm • 0 0 • view
Judge blocks deportation of unaccompanied migrant minors to Guatamala. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
aug 31, 2025, 6:51 pm • 28 5 • view
Judge Sooknanan: And I tried to reach the government. I have been up since then..and didn't reach anyone from the government until later this morning. And the imminence that the plaintiff claimed proved true, because, in fact, those planes *were* loaded. One actually took off and was returned.
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 1,793 309 • view
Don’t answer that Pam, it’s article III calling
aug 31, 2025, 6:16 pm • 0 0 • view
EVIL
aug 31, 2025, 6:23 pm • 0 0 • view
The government is straight up lying to the judge… again. This is a continual theme under Führer Trump.
aug 31, 2025, 6:17 pm • 5 0 • view
Judge Sooknanan continues her monologue: And so, absent action and intervention by the court, all of those children would have been returned to Guatemala, potentially to extremely dangerous situations.
aug 31, 2025, 6:13 pm • 1,609 224 • view
Over the years I’ve had plenty of run ins with DOJ lawyers in district and appeals courts. Lost many more arguments than I won because more often than not the DOJ lawyer was a step ahead than me. At least they didn’t dissemble like this.
aug 31, 2025, 6:34 pm • 7 2 • view
Judge Sooknanan to Ensign: And even now that the government has appeared, you're telling me that even though you think you have the authority to do this, and that what you're trying to do here is unify families, not violate the law, you need five days to respond.
aug 31, 2025, 6:15 pm • 1,549 189 • view
Corruption and cruelty, deception Are their only policies
aug 31, 2025, 6:15 pm • 30 1 • view
How can she be certain the planes haven’t taken off? Is she relying on the word of govt lawyer Ensign?
aug 31, 2025, 6:15 pm • 16 1 • view
Extremely bad that the government itself is acting like a clandestine criminal people-smuggler, especially because there were children.
aug 31, 2025, 6:48 pm • 37 5 • view
If I were that judge or any judge having to deal with Ensign, I would hold him in contempt and jail him if the government doesn't comply with the judge's order. Ensign is a menace.
aug 31, 2025, 8:58 pm • 1 0 • view
@jjindc.bsky.social
aug 31, 2025, 6:14 pm • 0 0 • view
This is HORRENDOUS!
aug 31, 2025, 6:50 pm • 0 0 • view
Umm no 3 took off and doesn’t look like any have been returned.
aug 31, 2025, 6:13 pm • 1 0 • view
What’s your proof?
aug 31, 2025, 6:15 pm • 1 0 • view
You don't know who is on those planes. Plenty of deportations happening that aren't this case, unfortunately.
aug 31, 2025, 6:15 pm • 6 0 • view
Those pilots need to never fly again
aug 31, 2025, 6:15 pm • 7 1 • view
Seriously, I don’t expect one could keep a taxi medallion or an Uber account after having been the driver for a kidnapping operation How on earth can a person keep their pilot’s license
aug 31, 2025, 6:19 pm • 11 1 • view
And Ensign should be explicitly barred from selling or otherwise profiting from his memoirs
aug 31, 2025, 6:44 pm • 3 0 • view
Sneaky MFERs 😡
aug 31, 2025, 6:11 pm • 44 1 • view
And this is one case where someone was able to get the matter before a judge in the middle of the night. How many were not?
aug 31, 2025, 10:04 pm • 1 0 • view
As someone who sponsored a child in Guatemala for years (through Compassion) I am horrified that anyone could even consider sending unaccompanied minors there without a solid plan for their care.
aug 31, 2025, 10:12 pm • 3 0 • view
Leave these poor children ALONE!! JFC!!!
aug 31, 2025, 7:09 pm • 11 1 • view
The hallmark of a bully is picking on people who can't defend themselves.
sep 1, 2025, 12:15 am • 3 2 • view
sep 1, 2025, 12:16 am • 1 0 • view
It’s really too bad that these Trump administration lawyers and officials don’t get slapped with contempt. They’ve tried to sneakily evade court orders before and then lie about it. If and when the rule of law applies once again, these people need to be prosecuted.
aug 31, 2025, 7:48 pm • 11 1 • view
this administration is truly truly horrible...horrific things happening.
aug 31, 2025, 7:53 pm • 3 0 • view
DHS / DOJ --- classy, dudes, learning from Hitler memos?
aug 31, 2025, 7:04 pm • 2 0 • view
😡😳😱🆘
aug 31, 2025, 9:32 pm • 0 0 • view
📌
aug 31, 2025, 8:44 pm • 0 0 • view
Thank goodness for the judge
aug 31, 2025, 9:11 pm • 0 0 • view
Thank you so much for being fully invested in these kids. And the Constitution and rule of law. And human rights. You aren’t just fighting the good fight, you’re fighting the best possible fight.
aug 31, 2025, 7:40 pm • 12 1 • view
These people, under Trump, are the literal devil.
aug 31, 2025, 6:51 pm • 5 1 • view
I honestly have no idea how you get a hold of a federal judge at 2 in the morning, but awfully glad these guys did. Ensign is a ghoul.
aug 31, 2025, 7:18 pm • 119 6 • view
The courts need to order all actions of removal may not begin before 8 am or after 5 pm. This middle of the night, under cover of darkness while the rest of America is asleep. Had has got to stop. This is the Gestapo disappearing people.
aug 31, 2025, 8:43 pm • 23 2 • view
They truly are ghouls, straight from the crypt.
aug 31, 2025, 9:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Thank you, Anna!
aug 31, 2025, 7:16 pm • 2 0 • view
So the US government is in the child trafficking business now. Given the current president, it doesn’t come as a surprise
sep 1, 2025, 11:13 am • 1 0 • view
Gosh, it sounds like the Judge doesn’t trust the government one bit. Welcome to the club!
aug 31, 2025, 6:59 pm • 61 3 • view
They have proven themselves untrustworthy. Plus they apparently don't give their own lawyers information that can be relied on. If I were a DOJ lawyer I'd be pissed.
aug 31, 2025, 7:49 pm • 22 2 • view
It’s on purpose. The lawyers don’t ask for the information so they don’t have to lie to the judge.
aug 31, 2025, 8:47 pm • 21 3 • view
Yes
sep 1, 2025, 12:24 pm • 1 0 • view
Trafficking children. You don't say.
aug 31, 2025, 8:13 pm • 25 0 • view
epstein is waiting in Guatemala for them.
sep 1, 2025, 2:26 am • 0 0 • view
They are such mother fuckers They need to be punished
aug 31, 2025, 6:11 pm • 7 0 • view
Nuremberg 2.0 is gonna be lit
aug 31, 2025, 6:13 pm • 7 0 • view
And they have the audacity to call themselves "Christians."
sep 1, 2025, 3:53 pm • 0 0 • view
I wonder if they have successfully executed this stunt before. I am too ashamed to call myself American.
sep 1, 2025, 3:50 pm • 0 0 • view
Stephen Miller will have a lot to answer for in this world or the next.
aug 31, 2025, 6:54 pm • 24 1 • view
Here would be preferable.
aug 31, 2025, 9:11 pm • 5 0 • view
I hope he spends the rest of his miserable life nervously looking over his shoulder
sep 1, 2025, 11:14 am • 1 0 • view
I sincerely hope that there is an afterlife of his beliefs for him. Because from everything I have been taught about religion, he isn't going to like where he's going.
aug 31, 2025, 7:06 pm • 9 0 • view
Needs to start here & now.
sep 1, 2025, 2:25 am • 1 0 • view
They were trying to do it in the dark of night so they wouldn’t be discovered.
aug 31, 2025, 6:11 pm • 143 11 • view
Nothing says "we're sure we're on solid legal ground" like sneaking around to present the courts with a fair accompli.
aug 31, 2025, 10:02 pm • 51 1 • view
They don't give a shit about solid legal ground. They only speak one language: the language of power.
aug 31, 2025, 11:06 pm • 8 1 • view
Trump supports subterfuge
sep 1, 2025, 1:15 am • 0 0 • view
Fucking criminals.
aug 31, 2025, 6:36 pm • 7 0 • view
So wonderful she's such a dedicated judge. 💖
sep 1, 2025, 3:37 am • 1 0 • view
WTF is wrong with these people ??
aug 31, 2025, 9:53 pm • 2 0 • view
Damn!!!
aug 31, 2025, 7:09 pm • 1 0 • view
Of course they did. They have one seating only and it’s always on “sadistic”.
aug 31, 2025, 8:04 pm • 3 0 • view
*setting not seating!
aug 31, 2025, 8:12 pm • 2 0 • view
aug 31, 2025, 6:16 pm • 6 0 • view
And not for the first time she was very very much NOT WRONG
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 6 0 • view
Wow. Ex Parte with this judge.... www.dcd.uscourts.gov/content/dist...
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 2 0 • view
Sooknanan "clerked for the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor."
aug 31, 2025, 7:23 pm • 3 0 • view
Call these MFERs OUT💥💥💥
aug 31, 2025, 6:08 pm • 10 1 • view
They need fodder for their kiddie porn
aug 31, 2025, 6:12 pm • 0 0 • view
i'd say Ensign should be happy working from a holding cell for the next five days.
aug 31, 2025, 7:02 pm • 6 0 • view
aug 31, 2025, 8:04 pm • 0 0 • view
Aw we s we w ewssdswsxsgxs
aug 31, 2025, 6:55 pm • 0 0 • view
I hope this isn't those children. Anyone know how to find out?
aug 31, 2025, 6:27 pm • 8 0 • view
bsky.app/profile/jjin...
aug 31, 2025, 6:27 pm • 9 5 • view
Thank you. I am wondering if they could be other individuals and not these children. I don't trust our govt any longer. I will start following the account you pointed to. Thank you 👍🏻
aug 31, 2025, 6:29 pm • 12 0 • view
Not sure - but we know they admitted at least one plane was in the air. Just wanted to share the original link as well. I count at least 3 times Ensign on behalf of the DOJ got caught lying during Anna's excellent reporting. The government is beyond being trusted.
aug 31, 2025, 6:34 pm • 17 1 • view
Agreed and, yes, his claim that one was in the air but turned around seemed far fetched given the timeline Anna was reporting along. Felt way too quick for him to know it really has turned around
aug 31, 2025, 7:25 pm • 7 0 • view
Sickening. Those poor children. What is wrong with the Trump administration? Maybe Melania should write a letter to her husband? Wtf?!
sep 1, 2025, 12:02 am • 1 0 • view
What are the realistic odds that Judge Sooknanan will levy a charge of contempt on the DOJ’s counsel for lying to the Court?
aug 31, 2025, 7:00 pm • 3 0 • view
OMG this admin is beyond horrible to do this to children. They’re monsters. Evil to the core.
sep 1, 2025, 12:01 pm • 1 0 • view
It's not the party of family values. It's the party of family abuse.
aug 31, 2025, 8:32 pm • 1 0 • view
"This doesn't quite line up" is a polite way to say "You are lying." As the conflicting depositions were entered under oath, should they turn out to be false*, will those who entered them be charged with perjury or at least held in contempt? (Spoiler:No.) *Should the sun rise in the East.
aug 31, 2025, 7:24 pm • 9 0 • view
Orange is the new black www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-HY...
aug 31, 2025, 7:23 pm • 2 0 • view
That’s easy to resolve. The government is lying.
aug 31, 2025, 6:17 pm • 6 0 • view
Thank you for doing this.
aug 31, 2025, 5:59 pm • 8 0 • view
Gov’t engages in child trafficking.
aug 31, 2025, 6:11 pm • 4 0 • view
The octogenarian toddler in the Oval Office is playing to his strengths . . . Thiry years of partnership with Epstein and Maxwell is a solid basis for his "expertise."
aug 31, 2025, 6:30 pm • 1 0 • view
I doubt he has any idea as to what’s going on here. Stephen Miller has been given free rein over “immigration policy”. Trump stays busy by cheating at golf.
aug 31, 2025, 6:38 pm • 0 0 • view
The human trafficking mob is happy though. Every county in Oklahoma is happy Wake up 26 is coming vote them all out
aug 31, 2025, 6:02 pm • 4 0 • view
Am I crazy or does this sound nothing like “parents are requesting to have their children returned”?
aug 31, 2025, 6:00 pm • 11 0 • view
It’s terrible how a benign agency such as DHS, should have their actions and motivations so misunderstood, twisted, traduced, and embroidered upon -and that’s just by the DOJ. “It is so unfair - every one treats us as if we shoot puppies”
aug 31, 2025, 6:02 pm • 5 1 • view
🤣🤣🤣
aug 31, 2025, 6:09 pm • 0 0 • view
This is so fucking gross. 🤬🤬🤬
aug 31, 2025, 5:57 pm • 28 0 • view
Many thanks for your reporting. Knowing that this is a gov't one cannot trust to tell the time tells me all I need. They make a mockery of democracy.
sep 1, 2025, 2:15 am • 0 0 • view
Trump is deporting children. Impeach. @aclu.org @acluwa.bsky.social @eliaslawgroup.bsky.social @immigrantjustice.bsky.social @legaldefensefund.bsky.social @democracydocket.com @schiff.senate.gov @raskin.house.gov @nadler.house.gov @aoc.bsky.social @petebuttigieg.bsky.social @sanders.senate.gov
aug 31, 2025, 6:32 pm • 2 0 • view
We can't build the gallows fast enough for these people
aug 31, 2025, 10:17 pm • 2 0 • view
Has America lost all sense of f'ing decency? We deserve to be a pariah nation if this evilness continues. Just heartsick as I look at the 10 y/o grandchild sitting across the table from me.
aug 31, 2025, 5:59 pm • 17 2 • view
@marisakabas.bsky.social there’s a big, big story here. Someone in the government is allegedly coercing people to make false declarations in court to violate laws meant to stop child trafficking.
aug 31, 2025, 8:27 pm • 5 0 • view
Oh, I bet.
aug 31, 2025, 5:57 pm • 0 0 • view