A federal judge in Boston has mandated the return of a college student to the United States within two weeks, following her mistaken deportation to Honduras during Thanksgiving travel. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns issued the order on Friday, requiring 19-year-old Babson College freshman Any Lucia Lopez Belloza to be brought back by the end of February.
Judge Criticizes Executive Branch Overreach
In his ruling, Judge Stearns expressed disappointment that the Trump administration failed to resolve the issue after acknowledging the deportation error. He emphasized that the courts, not the executive branch, must determine Lopez Belloza's rights and the legality of her removal. "This is not an issue for the Executive to prejudge and arrogate to itself, whatever stance it may choose to take in litigating the removal issue before a court of law," Stearns wrote.
Government and Legal Responses
The Department of Homeland Security defended its actions in an emailed statement, asserting that Lopez Belloza received "full due process" and a final removal order issued by an immigration judge in 2015. The agency noted she entered the U.S. in 2014 and claimed she missed multiple appeal opportunities. However, Lopez Belloza countered that her previous attorney informed her no removal order existed.
Her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, criticized the government's response, stating it "spills a lot of ink on the difficulty of a student visa, but it fails to address the numerous simple solutions available to itself to rectify its 'mistaken' deportation." Pomerleau was unavailable for comment late Friday.
Details of the Deportation and Aftermath
Lopez Belloza, who has no criminal history, was detained at Boston's airport on November 20 as she prepared to fly home to Texas for Thanksgiving. She was deported two days later and has since been staying with her grandparents in Honduras, a country she had not visited in over a decade. Babson College has offered support for her to continue her business degree studies remotely while she pursues legal recourse.
This case highlights ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration policy and the judicial system's role in oversight. The ruling underscores the importance of due process and accountability in deportation proceedings, particularly for individuals with clean records and educational pursuits.
