A Babson College student, Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, experienced a dramatic turn of events when she was mistakenly deported to Honduras despite a court order preventing her removal from the United States. The incident unfolded on November 20, 2023, just as Lopez Belloza was preparing to travel to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. She was detained at Boston’s airport, where she faced a bewildering situation that would change her life.
In a phone interview from Honduras, where she is currently residing with her grandparents, the 19-year-old freshman recounted the surreal experience of being placed on a deportation flight. “It just shocked me. I don’t know, like I was numb,” Lopez Belloza said. The young woman had no criminal record and believed she was safe in the United States, making her sudden deportation even more distressing.
Lopez Belloza’s challenges began when she was detained by federal immigration authorities and ultimately deported two days later. This marked her first return to Honduras since she was eight years old. The government’s admission of a mistake, where her name remained on a deportation list despite a Massachusetts judge’s ruling against her removal, has done little to alleviate the uncertainty of her future.
Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, filed a request on Friday with a federal judge, urging the Trump administration to devise a plan for her return. Lopez Belloza had previously been ordered deported alongside her mother after arriving in the U.S. years ago, but she asserts that she was never informed of a removal order. “I never would have tried to fly home in November if I’d known about it,” she stated.
The emotional impact of her deportation has been profound. “The hardest part has been missing the holidays with my parents,” she explained, expressing feelings of depression and anxiety about her family’s safety in Texas. Lopez Belloza described how her parents have also faced intimidation from immigration authorities, despite their attempts to secure green cards.
“They’re scared. They’re scared to step outside because of how everything is,” she said. “They’re traumatized. I’m traumatized.” The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on her parents’ situation or responded to her attorney’s request for her return.
Despite these challenges, Lopez Belloza is determined to continue her education. After contemplating enrolling at a university in Honduras, she has opted to remain connected with Babson College, which has offered her support to study remotely. The college community has rallied around her, emphasizing the importance of her continued education and well-being.
Her experience in detention was harrowing. Lopez Belloza described being placed in a holding cell with 17 other women, lacking space to lie down. “Those hours I was detained, it was so horrible,” she recalled. Before being deported, she managed to make a final phone call to her family. “I was numb the whole plane ride. I was like, ‘If this is it, then this will be it,’” she said, grappling with the loss of her dreams.
Reflecting on her aspirations, Lopez Belloza noted, “In Honduras, if you want to dream big, it’s like you have to have a lot of money. But in the United States, dreams are possible.” She expressed gratitude for the government’s apology regarding the “tragic” mistake but lamented the drastic changes it has wrought in her life.
Lopez Belloza’s case highlights broader issues within the immigration system, particularly instances where deportations occur despite existing court rulings. Similar cases have been noted, such as that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported despite a ruling that should have protected him.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns acknowledged the government’s bureaucratic error, noting the need for accountability while appearing hesitant to impose strict penalties, suggesting that the violation did not seem intentional. Pomerleau continues to advocate for Lopez Belloza, emphasizing the need for due process and a fair resolution.
As her situation evolves, Lopez Belloza remains hopeful for a timely return to the U.S., where she can continue pursuing her education and dreams. “I’m just like hoping that I get back as soon as possible,” she said, clinging to her aspirations and the support of her family.
