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Trafficked, abused teens ordered deported despite pending legal status, lawsuit says

Aug 5, 2026·Location: Philadelphia, PA

Country of origin: Guatemala

Trafficked, abused teens ordered deported despite pending legal status, lawsuit says

Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh (JFCS) filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging policies push unaccompanied immigrant children toward deportation even when they qualify for legal status. The suit names six teen plaintiffs from Vietnam, Guinea, El Salvador and Guatemala, all described as victims of abuse, abandonment, neglect or trafficking. Among them is KTN, a 19-year-old from Vietnam who fled severe, repeated physical abuse by his father and was approved for Special Immigrant Juvenile status in May, yet was ordered deported in July. Another plaintiff, 17-year-old Guatemalan trafficking survivor FYCT, was ordered deported despite applying for T nonimmigrant status after being confirmed as a trafficking victim. The lawsuit alleges immigration judges have been instructed to deny children meaningful time to pursue pending applications, citing government data showing removal and voluntary departure orders against minors have nearly quadrupled. JFCS staff say hundreds of their young clients are at risk, and the filing coincided with two Pittsburgh-area members of Congress questioning the administration's decision to end a contract funding attorneys for roughly 20,000 unaccompanied children nationwide, including about 700 in Pennsylvania.

Timeline

Aug 5, 2026JFCS filed federal lawsuit in eastern district of Pennsylvania on behalf of six teen plaintiffs
Aug 5, 2026Pittsburgh-area members of Congress questioned administration's decision to end attorney funding contract for unaccompanied children
Jul 1, 2026Immigration court ordered KTN deported despite approved status
May 1, 2026KTN's Special Immigrant Juvenile petition approved
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