BOSTON (AP) — The federal government has formally apologized in court for mistakenly deporting a Massachusetts college student who was attempting to return home to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. This incident involves 19-year-old Lucia Lopez Belloza, a freshman at Babson College, who was detained at Boston’s airport on November 20 and subsequently flown to Honduras two days later, despite a court order that directed her to remain in the U.S. for at least 72 hours.
Lopez Belloza, who has resided in the U.S. since her family emigrated from Honduras in 2014, is currently living with her grandparents and studying remotely. She recently visited family in El Salvador but is not in detention.
At a federal court hearing, government attorneys argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over Lopez Belloza's case because her legal team filed their motion several hours after she had already been en route to Texas. However, they also admitted to violating the judge’s order pertaining to her situation.
The government's acknowledgment of the error came as Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter stated that it was an inadvertent mistake by one individual and not a deliberate act to dismiss a court directive. He expressed that the officer involved might have mistaken the situation because she was no longer in Massachusetts.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had mistakenly proceeded with her removal without activating a crucial alert system designed to notify others that a case is under judicial review. The officer in question confessed that he did not inform the enforcement office in Texas about Lopez Belloza's exemption from deportation.
While the government claims her deportation was lawful based on a prior immigration judge’s decision in 2016, her lawyer contended that the government’s actions constituted a clear violation of due process. In a statement, he expressed hope that they would exhibit compassion by allowing her to return to the U.S. for her education.
Judge Richard Stearns praised the government for acknowledging the error but highlighted the tragic nature of the bureaucratic mistake. He suggested Lopez Belloza might explore applying for a student visa to regain her status in the U.S.
As the case unfolds, Lopez Belloza's situation underscores significant concerns over immigration protocols and the enforcement processes in place, particularly those impacting vulnerable populations.
