In brief
Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman at Babson College, was deported to Honduras while attempting to visit family for Thanksgiving. Detained at Boston's airport, she reportedly missed multiple opportunities to contest a long-standing removal order due to a lack of awareness and support. Her lawyer hints at systemic issues within Immigration and Customs Enforcement that led to her deportation despite a standing court order. Now living with her grandparents, Lopez Belloza is fighting to complete her education while grappling with the trauma of her situation.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Massachusetts college student, Lucia Lopez Belloza, was deported to Honduras while attempting to visit family for Thanksgiving, igniting a legal contention regarding her removal order. The 19-year-old freshman at Babson College was detained at Boston's Logan Airport on Nov. 20 and flown out just two days later, despite a court ruling that she should remain in Massachusetts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter indicated that the Boston court lacked jurisdiction over Lopez Belloza at the critical moment, as she had already left for Texas. Meanwhile, Lopez Belloza's attorney, Todd Pomerleau, maintains that she was unaware of the long-standing removal order and faced difficulties in accessing information during her deportation process.
Pomerleau asserts that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made it near-impossible for them to track her whereabouts post-arrest. He elaborated that after her initial call to family, there was no means of disclosure from ICE regarding her location, leading to an unjust situation where they were left guessing her condition and surroundings.
Despite the government claiming that adequate contact was facilitated, the facts suggest severe gaps in communication, leaving Lopez Belloza vulnerable and confused. Having moved to the U.S. as a child in 2014, her attorney asserts that the removal order was initiated without her knowledge, conflicting with her ability to seek legal recourse as a minor.
With the court permitting Pomerleau until Dec. 11 to provide a formal response, Lopez Belloza, now staying with her grandparents, is preparing to complete her final exams remotely while confronting the psychological impact of her ordeal.
“She’s just a remarkable young woman,” Pomerleau stated, affirming his dedication to ensuring a bright future for his client amidst these tragic circumstances.
