The federal government is contesting a court order that mandates the return of Any López Belloza, a college student who was wrongfully deported earlier this month. López Belloza, who is enrolled at Babson College near Boston, was detained while attempting to board a flight to Austin, Texas, to visit her family for Thanksgiving. Immigration authorities assert that she was originally ordered to return to her native Honduras in 2015.
The situation escalated after a Massachusetts federal court deemed her deportation a mistake and ordered that she be repatriated by a specific deadline. However, in a recent filing, government attorneys argued that the court does not have jurisdiction over the case and hinted that they would deport her again if she returned to the United States.
López Belloza’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, has expressed concerns that the government is stalling the process, stating that federal agents had contacted López Belloza via WhatsApp, offering her a flight back to the U.S. without guarantees against immediate deportation. Pomerleau described this approach as a tactic to bring his client back only to separate her from her family once more, calling it a “charade.”
“I am asking for honesty and fairness,” López Belloza said. “No one should have to feel this powerless.” She emphasized her desire to continue her education in the U.S. after having fled Honduras as a child with her family, believing they had been granted asylum.
Pomerleau argues that her deportation violated a judge’s earlier order to keep her in the U.S. until her case was resolved. The federal government admitted last month that López Belloza’s deportation was a mistake, prompting the court to order a plan for her return. In response to the latest developments, Congressman Greg Casar voiced his frustration, calling the government’s refusal to comply with the judge’s order “outrageous.”
“We cannot let America become a country where the government can ignore judges’ orders,” Casar stated. “Any must immediately be allowed to fly back to Boston to continue her studies.”
Pomerleau indicated that he plans to respond to the government’s motion promptly and is willing to pursue the case in any court if necessary. “There’s no excuse for this lack of transparency or accountability,” he remarked. “You say you’re sorry, you make it right. You don’t say you’re sorry and continue to torment people.”
As this situation unfolds, López Belloza’s future remains uncertain, with her pending green card application complicating her efforts to continue building the life she has worked hard for in the United States. The federal government’s actions are under scrutiny as advocates push for her rights to be recognized and upheld.
