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Federal Judge Orders Return of Deported College Student Within Two Weeks
A federal judge in Boston has ruled that a 19-year-old Babson College freshman must be returned to the United States within two weeks after being mistakenly deported to Honduras last November.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ordered Friday that Any Lucia Lopez Belloza must be brought back by the end of February. The ruling comes after the Trump administration acknowledged it had erred in deporting Lopez Belloza but failed to resolve the situation independently.
“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,” Judge Stearns wrote in his decision. He emphasized that it is the judiciary’s role to determine Lopez Belloza’s rights and assess the legality of her removal from the country.
Lopez Belloza’s ordeal began on November 20 when she was detained at Boston’s Logan International Airport as she prepared to fly to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with family. Just two days later, she was deported to Honduras, a country she had not visited in more than a decade.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its actions in a statement, claiming Lopez Belloza received “full due process” and was subject to a final removal order. According to DHS, she entered the United States in 2014, and an immigration judge issued a removal order the following year. The agency maintains she missed multiple opportunities to appeal this decision.
However, Lopez Belloza’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, countered that his client was told by her previous legal representation that no such removal order existed. Following the court’s decision, Pomerleau expressed gratitude for the ruling.
“We are pleased that the Court has ordered Any’s immediate return,” he said in a statement. “She’s a remarkable, resilient young woman deserving of this outcome. We are thankful for the outpouring of support from those who have fought for Any’s Dream.”
Prior to the judge’s ruling, Pomerleau had criticized the government’s handling of the case, stating their response “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.”
Since her deportation, Lopez Belloza has been staying with her grandparents in Honduras. Despite the disruption to her education, Babson College has offered support to allow her to continue her business degree studies remotely. The private business school, located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is known for its entrepreneurship programs and has maintained contact with Lopez Belloza throughout this period.
The case has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about immigration enforcement practices and highlights the complex legal challenges faced by foreign students in the United States. Immigration advocates have pointed to Lopez Belloza’s case as an example of how administrative errors can dramatically impact individuals with no criminal history who are pursuing educational opportunities in the U.S.
Judge Stearns’ ruling reinforces the judiciary’s oversight role in immigration matters, particularly when the executive branch acknowledges mistakes but fails to take corrective action. The court’s intervention suggests a growing tension between immigration enforcement policies and judicial review of those actions.
As February draws to a close, attention will focus on the government’s compliance with the judge’s order and Lopez Belloza’s return to continue her education at Babson College.
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9 Comments
A 2-week timeline to return the deported student seems fair. The courts need to ensure the executive branch respects the rights of all individuals, including foreign students, and corrects any unlawful actions taken.
Yes, the timely return of this student is important. Deportation mistakes can have serious consequences, so the judge’s order is a reasonable step to mitigate the harm.
Wrongful deportation is a serious violation of an individual’s rights. The judge’s order is an appropriate check on the government’s power in this case. Hopefully this leads to better oversight and accountability in similar situations going forward.
It’s good to see the courts stepping in to correct this apparent wrongful deportation. Protecting the rights of international students should be a priority. Hopefully this case sets a precedent for more rigorous review of similar deportation cases going forward.
This is a troubling situation. While mistakes can happen, the government must be held accountable when they deport someone in error, especially a student. The judge’s order is a reasonable step to ensure this student can resume her studies without further disruption.
I agree, the government should act quickly to remedy this error and return the student. Protecting the rights of international students is crucial.
Wrongful deportation of a college student is a serious issue that deserves judicial oversight. The judge’s ruling to compel the government to bring her back within 2 weeks is an important check on executive power in such sensitive immigration matters.
This is a concerning case of a student being deported incorrectly. The judge’s order to return her within 2 weeks seems like the right call to rectify this mistake. I hope the administration can resolve this quickly and without further disruption to the student’s education and life.
This is an unfortunate situation, but the judge’s ruling seems like a fair way to ensure the student can resume her studies without further disruption. The government must be held responsible when they make mistakes that impact people’s lives.