A college freshman faced a shocking turn of events while trying to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, 19, was flying from Boston to Texas when she was unexpectedly deported to Honduras, the country she left at just seven years old.
According to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza had already passed security at Boston Logan International Airport when immigration officials informed her of an issue with her boarding pass. Within two days, she was sent to Texas and then quickly deported.
“She’s absolutely heartbroken,” Pomerleau said. “Her college dream has just been shattered.”
The situation stems from a deportation order that an immigration judge issued in 2015. Lopez Belloza claims she was unaware of this order. Pomerleau found that her case was closed back in 2017, raising questions about why she would be held to a decade-old decision. “They’re holding her responsible for something they claim happened a decade ago that she’s completely unaware of,” he noted.
In a twist, a federal judge issued an emergency order the day after Lopez Belloza’s arrest, preventing the government from moving her for at least 72 hours. However, there has been no response from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding this violation.
Now, Lopez Belloza is staying with her grandparents in Honduras. She expressed her disappointment, saying, “That was my dream. I’m losing everything.” She was excited to share her college experiences with her family, but now that dream feels out of reach.
This incident highlights a growing concern about immigration enforcement practices in the U.S. In recent years, reports show that deportations have surged, often without proper notification to those affected. According to a study by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, nearly 300,000 people were deported in 2021 alone.
Many social media users have reacted with outrage, expressing support for Lopez Belloza and condemning the immigration policies that led to her situation. This case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding immigration laws and the real impact they have on individuals’ lives.
For more on immigration enforcement, visit ICE’s official site.
