Her story Lucia López Belloza, a 19-year-old college student currently enrolled at Babson College in Massachusetts, was threatened with deportation to Honduras. This was only 48 hours after immigration officials arrested her. On November 20, authorities arrested López Belloza at Boston Logan International Airport. She was traveling to Austin, TX, to surprise her family for Thanksgiving.
The recently crowned Miss Student USA departed Honduras at the age of 7 when her family immigrated to the United States. Since her deportation, López Belloza has been living at her maternal grandparents’ house in northern Honduras. She expressed her disbelief over the situation, stating, “I never thought I would go through this tragedy.”
López Belloza’s case raised grave alarms. An emergency temporary restraining order was filed just 24 hours after her detention. This order stopped immigration officials from deporting her from the U.S. They have to wait a minimum of 72 hours while her case is reviewed. In direct violation of this legal order, López Belloza was deported just days later.
Immigration authorities claim that an immigration judge ordered López Belloza’s removal in 2015. They claim she has been undocumented since that removal order. Her attorney Todd Pomerleau told the Washington Post that he has not been able to find any evidence of such an order ever being issued.
At least one deportation was carried out by agents in military green body armor branded with “ERO” for Enforcement and Removal Operations. In the wake of this incident, immigration agents allegedly sought out and visited López Belloza’s family residence in Texas. Her father, anesthesia provider and former surgeon Francis López, said it was alarming that when agents visited inquiring about the school, three unmarked vehicles showed up.
Kristin Etter, the family’s lawyer, confirmed to the New York Times that the agents “did not have any papers or any warrant out” for López Belloza’s detention. This murky enforcement has drawn greater scrutiny, including lawsuits, of the enforcement actions by immigration authorities.
López Belloza’s district is represented by Congressman Greg Casar, who is currently advocating for her case. His letter underlines the critical need to prevent her circumstances leading to deportation, including the illegality of depriving her of her legal right to be released.
In her efforts to cope with the sudden change in her life, López Belloza stated, “I try to be as positive and as strong as I can.” Her story has helped to start vibrant conversations around the need for just immigration policies. It shines a light on the student experiences trapped in legal mazes.