On a chilly morning just before Thanksgiving, Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman at Babson College, thought she was on her way to surprise her family in Texas. Instead, her journey ended in Honduras—a country she hadn’t called home since she was seven—after a sudden and controversial deportation that has sparked national debate, legal wrangling, and a wave of concern among international students and immigration advocates across the United States.
According to detailed reports from The Boston Globe, Associated Press, and Austin American-Statesman, Lopez Belloza’s ordeal began on November 20, 2025, at Boston Logan International Airport. She had already cleared security when officials pulled her aside, citing a problem with her boarding pass. What followed was a rapid and bewildering cascade of events: she was detained, transferred to a processing center, then to a military base, and finally to a jail in Texas. Within just two days—by November 22—she was bound by her hands and ankles and put on a flight to Honduras.
For Lopez Belloza, the experience was devastating. “I have worked so hard to be able to be at Babson my first semester, that was my dream,” she told The Boston Globe. “I’m losing everything.” Now, instead of sharing stories of her business studies with her parents and hugging her two younger sisters, aged two and five, Lopez Belloza is staying with her grandparents in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, her future in limbo.
The legal controversy at the heart of the case centers on a deportation order that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claims was issued by an immigration judge in 2015. But her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, strongly disputes this. According to Pomerleau, the only official record he could locate showed that Lopez Belloza’s case was closed in 2017. “They’re holding her responsible for something they claim happened a decade ago that she’s completely unaware of and not showing any of the proof,” Pomerleau told the Associated Press.
Adding to the complexity, a federal judge issued an emergency order on November 21, just one day after Lopez Belloza’s arrest, explicitly prohibiting the government from removing her from Massachusetts or the United States for at least 72 hours. Despite this court order, ICE proceeded with her deportation. ICE confirmed to The Boston Globe that Lopez Belloza had indeed been deported the week before November 29, but declined to comment on whether agents had violated the judge’s order.
Pomerleau contends that ICE’s actions represent a clear violation of Lopez Belloza’s constitutional rights. He also claims that the agency prevented him from communicating with his client until after she had already been removed from the country. “Her college dream has just been shattered,” he told The Boston Globe and AP.
The repercussions of the case have rippled far beyond Lopez Belloza’s immediate family. Her father, who asked that his last name not be published due to his own immigration status, described the family’s shock and heartbreak to the Austin American-Statesman. “In reality, we didn’t think she had a deportation order,” he said. “If we had known, I don’t think we would have sent her (to Babson).” He also acknowledged the risk in speaking out, but said he hoped their story would alert other families facing similar uncertainty. “We know this is our reality, a lot of others are going through this too. We want others to know what’s happening. So others can be ready.”
As the story gained national attention, it quickly became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over U.S. immigration policy. Some supporters of former President Donald Trump and current ICE leadership publicly applauded the agency’s actions. Border Patrol Operations Commander Gregory Bovino, for instance, shared a link to an ABC News article about the case on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the media’s framing: “Why even mention this illegal alien was an 18 year old college student? Completely irrelevant except that an illegal alien may have taken a university slot from an American citizen.”
Yet, many legal observers and immigrant rights advocates see the deportation as emblematic of deeper problems within the U.S. immigration system—especially when it comes to the rights of international students and the reliability of court-ordered protections. As Meyka AI PTY LTD noted in a recent analysis, the case “raises pressing questions about the reliability of protections promised by immigration court orders.” When enforcement agencies act in apparent defiance of judicial rulings, the very foundation of due process is called into question.
Universities, too, are feeling the pressure. Babson College, where Lopez Belloza had just completed her first semester, did not respond to requests for comment from AP. But the incident has sparked anxiety among international students nationwide, who rely on their visa status—and the legal protections it is supposed to afford—to pursue their education in the U.S. The case underscores the need for clear communication between educational institutions and immigration authorities, as well as robust support systems for students navigating the maze of U.S. immigration law.
For Lopez Belloza and her attorney, the fight is far from over. Pomerleau has vowed to continue challenging the deportation and is exploring legal avenues for her return, citing precedents like the case of Kilmer Abrego Garcia. Legal experts say that such high-profile cases can set important precedents, potentially influencing future immigration policy reforms and enforcement practices.
In the meantime, Lopez Belloza’s story has become a rallying point for those who argue that the U.S. immigration system is in urgent need of reform. It’s a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic errors and the fragility of the protections that many students—and their families—trust will keep them safe. As the legal battle unfolds, the case will likely serve as a critical point of reflection for immigration authorities, educational institutions, and lawmakers alike.
For now, Lopez Belloza waits in Honduras, her dreams on hold, her fate tied to a legal and political debate that shows no signs of quieting down. Her story, and the questions it raises about justice, due process, and the American promise, will linger long after the headlines fade.
