U.S. acknowledges mistaken deportation of Babson student to Honduras

The Trump administration told a federal court in Massachusetts on Tuesday that it had mistakenly deported a college student to Honduras despite a court order barring her removal. The student, Any Lucía López Belloza, 19, a freshman at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., was detained at Boston Logan International Airport on Nov.

20 and flown to Honduras two days later, the court was told, even though a court order signed on Nov. 21 barred her deportation while her case was pending. In an interview with CNN, Ms. López said, “I accept their apologies,” and added that she hoped to return to her studies and be home with her parents.

The government’s acknowledgement did not include a move to drop the underlying case, and the administration has generally sought expanded authority to detain and deport noncitizens, the hearing revealed. Judge Richard G. Stearns said he hoped to find a solution that would allow Ms.

López to return to the United States and continue her studies. Since the deportation, Ms. López’s family in Austin, Texas, has reported intimidation by immigration agents; the Times account says agents in three unmarked vehicles appeared at her parents’ home and that one agent rushed at her father, Francis López, who was not detained after he fled inside and locked the door.

Key Topics

Politics, Any Lucia Lopez, Babson College, Honduras, Boston Logan Airport, Richard Stearns