BOSTON — A college student who was deported to Honduras while on her way home for Thanksgiving must be returned to the United States within two weeks, according to a ruling made by U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns on Friday.
The judge ordered the return of 19-year-old Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a freshman at Babson College, indicating that the Trump administration missed opportunities to rectify her mistaken deportation. He emphasized the judiciary's role in determining the legality of her removal.
Stearns stated, “This is not an issue for the Executive to prejudge... it is up to the courts to decide her rights.”
Lopez Belloza was detained at Boston's airport on November 20 and deported two days later; the Department of Homeland Security claimed she received 'full due process' and pointed to a removal order issued by an immigration judge in 2015 when she entered the U.S. in 2014.
Despite the government's assertions, Lopez Belloza contends that her former attorney informed her that there had been no removal order, which her legal counsel claims demonstrates a flawed process. Attorney Todd Pomerleau criticized the government's response, suggesting it avoided addressing straightforward solutions to fix the situation.
Since her deportation, Lopez Belloza has been staying with her grandparents in Honduras, a country she had not visited in over a decade. Babson College has extended support for her to continue her studies remotely as she seeks to pursue a business degree.
The case underscores growing concerns related to immigration process fairness and its implications for international students, especially amid ongoing debates about immigration policy.
