College Student Mistakenly Deported to Honduras Seeks Return

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman at Babson College, faced an unexpected and traumatic turn of events when she was mistakenly deported to Honduras on November 22, 2023. Lopez Belloza was en route to surprise her family in Texas for Thanksgiving when she was detained at Boston’s airport. Despite having no criminal record and a court order preventing her deportation, she found herself on a flight heading back to her native country, a place she had not seen since she was eight years old.

In a phone interview from Honduras, Lopez Belloza expressed her disbelief and emotional turmoil during the ordeal. “It just shocked me. I don’t know, like I was numb,” she explained. Following her detention, she was held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility for two nights, cramped alongside other women without sufficient space to lie down. “Those hours I was detained, it was so horrible,” she recalled.

On November 20, as she prepared to board her flight to Texas, federal authorities detained her based on a deportation order that even a Massachusetts judge had previously ruled must not be enforced. The Department of Homeland Security later issued an apology for the error, stating that an ICE officer had mistakenly kept her name on the deportation flight list. Despite this admission, her future remains uncertain as her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, has sought a federal judge’s intervention to facilitate her return to the United States.

Lopez Belloza’s family also faces challenges. Her parents, who have applied for green cards, are fearful of being targeted by immigration authorities. “They’re scared. They’re traumatized,” she said. The emotional toll of her deportation has left Lopez Belloza feeling depressed, particularly as she misses spending the holidays with her family in Texas.

While contemplating her options, Lopez Belloza briefly considered attending university in Honduras but ultimately decided to continue her studies at Babson College remotely. The institution has offered her support during this difficult time.

Despite the challenges, Lopez Belloza maintains a sense of hope. “I just kept questioning myself. Why is it happening to me?” she expressed, reflecting on her dreams of pursuing a business degree and eventually opening a tailoring shop with her father. “I guess this is where my dreams are gone,” she lamented, noting the stark contrast between opportunities in the United States and those available in Honduras.

The case of Lopez Belloza highlights a troubling trend in U.S. immigration enforcement. The Trump administration previously faced criticism for similar incidents, including the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was removed from the U.S. despite a court ruling protecting him. In response to Lopez Belloza’s situation, her attorney has referenced these past cases in court filings, urging for a swift resolution to allow her return.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns acknowledged the government’s bureaucratic mistake but expressed concerns about his jurisdiction over the case, indicating that the deportation order was executed before the court’s order was filed. His comments suggest that while the government has recognized its error, legal complexities may hinder immediate action to rectify the situation.

Lopez Belloza’s lawyer is pushing for a two-week deadline for federal officials to devise a plan for her return, which could potentially involve a student visa, though complications from her previous removal order may arise. As her case unfolds, Lopez Belloza remains hopeful for a resolution that allows her to pursue her education and reunite with her family in the United States.