Immigration

Federal Judge Orders U.S. Government to Return Deported Babson College Student Within Two Weeks

Federal Court Orders Return of Deported College Freshman

A federal judge in Boston has given the U.S. government two weeks to bring back a 19-year-old Babson College student who was mistakenly deported to Honduras.

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a freshman studying business at Babson College in Massachusetts, was removed from the country in November while traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday. The government later acknowledged in court that her deportation was an error.

Judge Says Courts Must Decide Her Case

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled that Lopez Belloza must be returned to the United States by the end of February. The judge stated that it is the responsibility of the courts—not the executive branch—to determine the legality of her removal and her rights under immigration law.

He emphasized that the administration could not unilaterally decide the outcome without judicial review.

Government’s Position

The Department of Homeland Security stated that Lopez Belloza had received due process and had a prior removal order issued by an immigration judge years earlier. According to federal officials, she originally entered the U.S. in 2014 and the removal order was finalized the following year.

However, her legal team disputes that she was properly informed. Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, argued that the government had simple legal options available to correct what it admitted was a mistake.

Student Reacts to Court Decision

Lopez Belloza, who has no criminal history, was detained at Boston’s Logan Airport before boarding a domestic flight. She was deported just two days later.

Since then, she has been staying with relatives in Honduras, a country she had not lived in for more than ten years.

After the judge’s ruling, her attorney said she was emotional and relieved. Babson College has expressed support and has allowed her to continue her coursework remotely while the legal process unfolds.

Broader Immigration Implications

The case highlights ongoing debates over immigration enforcement procedures and due process protections. Legal experts note that mistaken deportations raise serious constitutional concerns, particularly when individuals have active educational status and no criminal record.

The court’s decision now places pressure on federal authorities to comply within the two-week deadline.