Court Order Ignored: College Freshman Deported During Thanksgiving Trip Home
A college freshman’s Thanksgiving plans took a devastating turn when she was deported to Honduras, allegedly in violation of a court order.
Court Order Ignored: Details of the Case
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old student from Babson College, flew from Boston to surprise her family in Texas. On November 20, 2023, she had already cleared security at Logan International Airport when immigration officials intervened.
Detention and Deportation Timeline
- Date of Incident: November 20, 2023
- Location: Logan International Airport, Boston
- Destination: Texas (final destination: Honduras)
- Time Frame: Detained and deported within two days.
According to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza was told there was an issue with her boarding pass, leading to her detention. Within 48 hours, she was sent to Texas and then directly to Honduras, the country she had left at the age of seven.
“She’s absolutely heartbroken,” Pomerleau stated. He added that her college dream has been shattered.
Legal Complications
Lopez Belloza’s deportation relates to a court order issued by an immigration judge in 2015. However, her attorney claims she was unaware of this order. According to Pomerleau, records indicate her case was closed in 2017.
“They’re holding her responsible for something they claim happened a decade ago that she’s completely unaware of and not showing any of the proof,” he asserted.
Court Intervention
The day after her arrest, a federal judge issued an emergency order. This order prohibited the government from moving her outside of Massachusetts or the United States for at least 72 hours. However, the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seemed to ignore this directive.
ICE has not commented on the situation, nor has Babson College provided a response regarding the deportation of their student. Lopez Belloza now finds herself staying with her grandparents in Honduras.
Emotional Impact
Speaking to The Boston Globe, Lopez Belloza expressed her sorrow. She had been eagerly looking forward to sharing her college experiences with her parents and younger sisters. “That was my dream,” she stated. “I’m losing everything.”
