BOSTON (AP) — The government apologized in a Boston court for a deportation error involving Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman at Babson College, who was detained while trying to fly home for Thanksgiving. Despite an emergency court order mandating her retention in Massachusetts for at least 72 hours, she was deported to Honduras on November 22.
Belloza’s family emigrated from Honduras in 2014, and she is currently staying with her grandparents while studying remotely. Her attorney argued that her deportation, enacted despite a judicial order, violated her due process rights. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter acknowledged the mistake, stating that it resulted from a misunderstanding by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who incorrectly believed that Belloza's removal order was no longer applicable once she left Massachusetts.
At the hearing, the judge acknowledged the tragedy of the situation but also noted doubts about whether the court held jurisdiction over the matter given the timing of actions taken by Belloza’s legal team. He suggested that Belloza might consider applying for a student visa to resume her studies in the U.S.
The judge also stated that while the government's acknowledgment of its error was appreciated, it did not warrant contempt proceedings, as there appeared to be no malicious intention behind the deportation. Discussions about possible solutions to allow Belloza to return to the U.S. while the legal aspects of her situation are addressed are underway.
Belloza’s family emigrated from Honduras in 2014, and she is currently staying with her grandparents while studying remotely. Her attorney argued that her deportation, enacted despite a judicial order, violated her due process rights. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter acknowledged the mistake, stating that it resulted from a misunderstanding by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who incorrectly believed that Belloza's removal order was no longer applicable once she left Massachusetts.
At the hearing, the judge acknowledged the tragedy of the situation but also noted doubts about whether the court held jurisdiction over the matter given the timing of actions taken by Belloza’s legal team. He suggested that Belloza might consider applying for a student visa to resume her studies in the U.S.
The judge also stated that while the government's acknowledgment of its error was appreciated, it did not warrant contempt proceedings, as there appeared to be no malicious intention behind the deportation. Discussions about possible solutions to allow Belloza to return to the U.S. while the legal aspects of her situation are addressed are underway.
