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Federal Government Misses Deadline to Return Wrongfully Deported College Student
The court-ordered deadline for the U.S. government to return Babson College freshman Any Lucia Lopez Belloza to the United States expired at midnight Friday, as her legal team accused federal officials of creating obstacles to her return from Honduras.
The 19-year-old student was mistakenly deported in November while attempting to fly to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. Despite a court order blocking her removal while her case was pending, immigration authorities sent her to Honduras, a country she left when she was just 7 years old.
“No one should have to feel this powerless. All I’m asking is for honesty and fairness,” Lopez Belloza said during a Friday press conference via Zoom. “I’m asking to be treated like a human with rights.”
Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, has vowed to continue fighting through appeals and insisted that Lopez Belloza “is not coming back in handcuffs.” The student, who has been studying remotely from Honduras, stated she would remain there for now as her legal team continues to press for her proper return.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its actions in a statement Friday, claiming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted to comply with the court’s order by arranging transportation but that Lopez Belloza “failed to appear for her prearranged flight.” The agency said it made “multiple attempts” to contact her but declined to provide additional details, citing operational security concerns.
However, Lopez Belloza and her legal team tell a different story. They allege federal officials sought to arrange a government-facilitated flight to the United States but would not clearly state whether she would be released upon arrival. Pomerleau said court filings indicate the government planned to detain her in Texas upon arrival and could potentially seek to deport her again within days.
“They’re interpreting the judge’s facilitation order to the extreme,” Pomerleau explained. “The judge’s order says to facilitate her return to the United States to maintain the status quo. And in their view, the status quo is that she was in handcuffs in a jail in Texas. So they’re going to bring her back, put her in handcuffs and leave her in that same jail in Texas.”
The case highlights ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration enforcement. DHS maintains that Lopez Belloza entered the country in 2014 and that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2015. The agency claims she received “full due process” and that the court order blocking her removal came after she had already been deported.
Lopez Belloza has countered that she was unaware of any removal order against her and was only 11 years old when the immigration case was decided. Pomerleau has stated that his initial review of her immigration records did not show an active removal order in the system.
In January court filings, government attorneys acknowledged the error, explaining that an ICE officer failed to properly activate an alert system that would have flagged the judge’s order blocking her removal. While the administration apologized for the mistake, it argued that the error did not invalidate the prior removal order.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns disagreed with the government’s position, ordering officials earlier this month to facilitate Lopez Belloza’s return within two weeks. The judge emphasized that the courts — not the executive branch — must determine her rights and the legality of her removal.
Government attorneys have challenged the ruling, arguing that the federal court in Boston lacks jurisdiction to undo her removal order. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complex intersection of immigration enforcement, judicial authority, and the rights of individuals caught in the system.
As the deadline passes with no resolution, Lopez Belloza’s case continues to raise questions about accountability in immigration enforcement and the recourse available to those wrongfully removed from the United States.
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20 Comments
This case is a troubling example of the challenges and injustices that immigrants and international students often face in the US. The government’s actions in this situation are a clear violation of this student’s rights and human dignity.
Agreed. This case underscores the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform and stronger protections for vulnerable populations, including international students. The government must be held accountable and ensure this student is safely returned to the US.
Deporting a college student who was mistakenly identified as someone else is a shocking violation of her rights. The government needs to rectify this situation immediately and ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Absolutely. This case highlights the urgent need for immigration reform and better safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals from such egregious errors.
It’s outrageous that the government failed to meet the court-ordered deadline to return this student to the US. Their actions seem purposefully obstructive and disregard her basic human rights. This case deserves continued scrutiny.
I hope the student’s legal team is able to successfully appeal and force the government to rectify this situation. No one should have to endure such treatment, especially a young person pursuing their education.
It’s deeply concerning that the government failed to meet the court-ordered deadline to return this student to the US. Their actions appear to be intentionally obstructive and disregard her basic rights. This case deserves continued scrutiny and accountability.
Absolutely. The government’s handling of this case is unacceptable and raises serious questions about their respect for due process and human rights. The student deserves justice and the full restoration of her rights.
This is a clear example of the challenges and injustices that immigrants and international students often face in the US. The government’s actions raise serious questions about their commitment to due process and human rights.
Agreed. This case underscores the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform and stronger protections for vulnerable populations, including international students.
This is a deeply concerning case that raises serious questions about the government’s respect for due process and human rights. Deporting a student and then creating obstacles to her return is a shocking violation of her basic rights.
Agreed. The government’s actions in this case are unacceptable and deserve continued scrutiny and accountability. This student deserves justice and the full restoration of her rights.
Deporting a college student over a mistaken identity and then creating obstacles to her return is completely unacceptable. The government’s actions in this case are a blatant violation of her rights and human dignity.
Absolutely. This case highlights the urgent need for significant reforms to the immigration system to prevent such egregious errors and ensure the fair treatment of all individuals, including international students. The government must rectify this situation immediately.
This is a disturbing case of wrongful deportation. The government should be held accountable for violating the student’s rights and creating obstacles to her return. She deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness.
Agreed. The government’s actions in this case are unacceptable and raise serious concerns about due process and respect for human rights.
The government’s handling of this case is deeply concerning. Deporting a college student over a mistaken identity and then creating obstacles to her return is unacceptable. This student deserves justice and the full restoration of her rights.
Absolutely. The government’s actions in this case are a blatant violation of this student’s rights and human dignity. They must be held accountable and ensure she is safely returned to the US.
This is a heartbreaking situation. No student should have to endure such a traumatic experience of being wrongfully deported and then facing barriers to their return. The government must address this case with urgency and transparency.
Agreed. This case highlights the need for significant reforms to the immigration system to prevent such egregious errors and ensure the fair treatment of all individuals, including international students.