In brief
Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College student, was deported to Honduras while attempting to travel home for Thanksgiving, raising concerns over her legal status. The college has expressed its commitment to supporting her academically and emotionally amidst the unfolding situation. Lopez Belloza's attorney is challenging the deportation, noting discrepancies around the existing court order.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Babson College has directed faculty and staff to extend academic and community support to Lucia Lopez Belloza, a student who was deported to Honduras while trying to fly to Texas for Thanksgiving.Lopez Belloza, 19, was detained at Boston Logan International Airport on November 20 as she attempted to board her flight. Despite an existing court order that prohibited the government from moving her out of Massachusetts or the United States, she was deported two days later.Having emigrated from Honduras at the age of 7, Lopez Belloza is now residing with her grandparents in Honduras. Caitlin Capozzi, the college's dean of campus life, notified faculty and staff about her detention, emphasizing the institution's focus on supporting Lopez Belloza and her family.“We understand that this news may feel unsettling, particularly for our students, faculty, and staff who may already be navigating uncertainty,” Capozzi wrote in a message published for the community.Lopez Belloza is a freshman studying business at Babson College, which has 2,800 undergraduate students located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The administration has adhered to legal protocols surrounding her situation and shared resources for support with students.College President Stephen Spinelli stated that the institution would refrain from further comments due to legal and privacy concerns. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Lopez Belloza was ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2015. However, her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, indicated he has not been able to locate documentation for this original order, raising further questions regarding the legality of her recent deportation.
