In brief
Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman at Babson College, had planned to surprise her family in Texas but ended up being deported to Honduras after being detained at Boston Logan International Airport. Her attorney claims there was a violation of a court order prohibiting her removal, as she was unaware of any pending deportation orders. Lopez Belloza expressed heartbreak over losing her chance to share her academic journey with her family this Thanksgiving.
Concord, N.H. (AP) — A college freshman attempting to surprise her family for Thanksgiving found herself subject to a shocking immigration enforcement situation, culminating in her deportation to Honduras instead of Texas.
Lucia Lopez Belloza, 19, was set to fly from Boston when immigration officials detained her over a boarding pass issue, ultimately leading to her deportation just days later. Attorney Todd Pomerleau reported that Lopez Belloza is devastated, with her dreams of attending college now dramatically altered.
Despite claims by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding a removal order from 2015, Lopez Belloza’s attorney insists she was unaware of such proceedings, noting that the only document available shows her case closed in 2017.
Her attorney criticized the situation, stating, “They’re holding her responsible for something they claim happened a decade ago that she’s completely unaware of.” On the day after her arrest, a federal judge issued an emergency order barring her removal from the U.S., which ICE did not address when requested for comments.
Lopez Belloza, now in Honduras with her grandparents, lamented losing the opportunity to share her college experiences with her family. “That was my dream,” she stated. “I’m losing everything.”
