Key Takeaways:
- Lucia López Belloza, a 19-year-old business student, was arrested and deported to Honduras while trying to fly home to surprise her family for Thanksgiving.
- López had no criminal record and was not given due process or a court hearing before being deported.
- Her lawyer claims that her deportation was unconstitutional and that she was shackled and treated like a hardened criminal.
- López’s family left Honduras due to gang violence and extortion, and her deportation has put her in a dangerous situation as a young woman in a country with high rates of femicides and sexual violence.
- Her lawyer is seeking an official explanation from the US government and is working to bring her back to the US.
Introduction to the Story
Lucia López Belloza, a 19-year-old business student at Babson College, was excited to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. She had not seen her parents and two little sisters since starting her first semester in August. However, her plans were disrupted when she was arrested and deported to Honduras while trying to fly home. López was handcuffed and arrested by what she believed were two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at Boston airport, despite having no criminal record.
The Deportation Process
López was allowed a phone call to her parents, who contacted a lawyer. The next day, a federal judge issued an emergency order barring her removal from the US for at least 72 hours until her case could be reviewed. However, the next morning, she was shackled at her wrists, ankles, and waist and deported to Honduras. Her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, claims that her deportation was unconstitutional and that she was not given due process or a court hearing. Pomerleau has represented other high-profile ICE detention cases and is working to bring López back to the US.
The Situation in Honduras
Honduras is a country plagued by gang violence, extortion, and corruption. The country has a high homicide rate, and gang violence takes a particularly heavy toll on women. Teenage girls are particularly affected, making up the majority of female victims of sexual violence. López’s family left Honduras due to these circumstances, and her deportation has put her in a dangerous situation. Her lawyer and social scientists who research deportees in Central America are concerned about the impact of her deportation on her safety and well-being.
The US Government’s Response
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson claimed that López was arrested because she "entered the country in 2014 and an immigration judge ordered her removed from the country in 2015." However, López’s lawyer claims that neither she nor he was ever shown the removal order, and that even if it does exist, a federal law stipulates that arrests in such cases can only take place within a 90-day window after the order is issued – not 10 years later. The US government has not provided an official explanation for López’s deportation, and her lawyer is seeking answers.
The Impact on López and Her Family
López is currently staying at her grandparents’ home in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She is trying to keep her mind occupied and is hoping to continue her studies, either in Honduras or by finishing her semester at Babson College. Her family is also affected by her deportation, and her parents are working to bring her back to the US. Babson College has issued a statement addressing her case and saying that "our focus remains on supporting the student and their family."
The Road Ahead
López’s lawyer is working to bring her back to the US and is seeking an official explanation from the US government. He claims that the government may say that they made a mistake and bring her back, or they may have a different approach, which would require him to make a forceful argument that the court order was violated and demand a remedy. López is hoping to move forward and continue her studies, and her lawyer is committed to fighting for her rights. The case has drawn global attention and has raised concerns about the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy and the treatment of undocumented immigrants in the US.
