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College Student Deported While Attempting Holiday Visit, Government Cites Missed Legal Opportunities
A Massachusetts college student was deported to Honduras while attempting to visit family for Thanksgiving, with a government attorney claiming she missed multiple chances to contest a removal order issued during her childhood.
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman at Babson College, was detained at Boston’s airport on November 20 and flown to Honduras two days later, despite a court order on November 21 requiring she remain in Massachusetts.
In a legal response filed Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter argued that the Boston judge who issued the order lacked jurisdiction because Lopez Belloza was already in Texas en route out of the country when the order was issued. Her attorney maintains she never knew about the longstanding removal order or how to challenge it.
“ICE did not ‘spirit’ Petitioner to an unknown place or fail to disclose her whereabouts after her arrest,” Sauter wrote, noting that Lopez Belloza was able to call her family the afternoon of her detention, providing notice of where to file a petition. He claimed her transfer to Texas was part of standard removal procedures, not an attempt to conceal her location.
Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza’s attorney, disputes this account. He contends that after the initial call home, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provided no meaningful way to locate his client. Pomerleau described how an ICE database showed Lopez Belloza in Massachusetts on November 20 but contained no information about her whereabouts the following day. He said no one answered phones at the local ICE field office, and calls to the office disconnected after automated messages.
“We literally have to guess not only where our client is but why they’re being held, because they don’t give us any information,” Pomerleau explained in a phone interview Friday.
Lopez Belloza arrived in the United States in 2014 at age 8. According to government documents, a judge ordered the removal of Lopez Belloza and her mother in March 2016, and the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed an appeal in February 2017. Sauter’s filing states she could have appealed to the Fifth Circuit, filed a motion for reconsideration, or sought a stay of removal from ICE.
Pomerleau argues these legal options were meaningless because Lopez Belloza was a child unaware they existed. He said another lawyer had told her parents “not to worry about it,” leaving the family with a false sense of security about her immigration status. “She had all these ways of winning but was completely living her life with blindfolds on,” Pomerleau said.
The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement practices and raises questions about due process protections for young immigrants. Immigration advocates have increasingly criticized the removal of individuals who arrived as children and have established lives in the United States, particularly those pursuing higher education.
Babson College, a private business school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is known for its entrepreneurship programs. The institution is reportedly working with Lopez Belloza to complete her freshman year coursework remotely while she remains in Honduras with her grandparents.
The court has given Pomerleau until December 11 to formally respond to the government’s filing. Despite the traumatic circumstances, Pomerleau said Lopez Belloza is working with Babson College to take her final exams and complete her freshman year remotely.
“She’s just a remarkable young woman,” he said, “and we’re gonna ensure she continues to have a bright future.”
The case continues to develop as immigration policies remain a contentious issue in the United States, with critics arguing for more humane approaches to cases involving young people who have spent their formative years in the country.
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14 Comments
Deporting a college student during the Thanksgiving holiday is a harsh and disruptive action. The government’s argument about missed opportunities seems questionable given the student’s apparent lack of awareness and resources.
Exactly, the timing and the government’s legal posturing make this case particularly troubling. More empathy and assistance is needed for young immigrants in these situations.
This is a regrettable situation. The student appears to have been unaware of the removal order and lacked the resources to properly contest it. More should be done to support young immigrants in these complex legal matters.
I agree, the lack of support and guidance provided to the student is troubling. The government’s stance seems overly rigid and lacking in compassion.
It’s troubling that the student was deported during the Thanksgiving holiday while attempting to visit family. This seems like a harsh outcome given the circumstances.
Absolutely, the timing of the deportation is especially insensitive and disruptive to her education and family life.
Deportation of a college student during the holidays is a heavy-handed move by the government. I hope this case prompts a review of the policies and procedures around removal orders for minors.
Well said. The optics of this case are very poor, and it’s concerning that the government is defending its actions so rigidly.
This is a concerning case. The student seems to have been unaware of the removal order and how to fight it. The government’s arguments about missed opportunities seem legalistic and lack compassion.
I agree, it appears the student was not given adequate guidance or support to navigate the complex legal system as a child.
This highlights the complexities and challenges for young immigrants navigating the legal system, often without proper guidance or support. A more compassionate approach is needed.
Absolutely, the system seems to fail many young immigrants in these types of situations. A more humane and understanding process is clearly warranted.
Curious to know more about the details of this case and whether there were genuine opportunities for the student to contest the removal order that were missed. The government’s claims seem questionable.
Yes, I’m also skeptical of the government’s position. More transparency around the specifics would help understand if there were genuine avenues for her to fight the order.