Judge Orders Return of Erroneously Deported Student

A federal judge in Boston ruled Friday that the U.S. government must return a 19-year-old Babson College freshman to the United States within two weeks after her mistaken deportation to Honduras in November.

U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns ordered immigration authorities to bring Any Lucia Lopez Belloza back by February 27, following an acknowledged clerical error by Immigration and Customs Enforcement that led to her removal despite a court-issued stay. The ruling requires the government to submit a status report by February 18 outlining concrete steps for her return, with a potential follow-up report on February 26 if needed. Stearns described the government's actions as a violation of judicial authority, writing in his order, "In this unfortunate case, the government commendably admits that it did wrong. Now it is time for the government to make amends."

Lopez Belloza, a business major with no criminal history, had been detained on November 20 at Boston's Logan International Airport while preparing to fly to Texas to visit family for Thanksgiving. Agents took her into custody and transported her to a detention center in Texas. The following day, November 21, a judge...