College Freshman Deported While Trying to Fly Home to Surprise Family for Thanksgiving
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In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Any Lucía López Belloza, a 19-year-old college freshman at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., found herself at the center of a deportation ordeal. Any, who was brought to the U.S. from Honduras by her parents to seek asylum at the age of 7, was attempting to fly home to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving.
According to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, Any’s aspirations of studying business to one day help her father open his own tailor shop were abruptly halted when she was detained at Boston Logan International Airport on November 20. Within two days, she was sent back to Honduras, leaving her family in shock and disbelief.
Describing the distressing turn of events, Pomerleau revealed that Any was informed of a boarding pass issue moments before her flight. Subsequently, she was surrounded, handcuffed, and “dragged out of the airport” while en route to customer service. Her hands, waist, and ankles were shackled before she was flown to Honduras.
Recounting the devastating impact of the deportation, Any’s father, Francis López, shared with The New York Times that he was unaware of any deportation order against his daughter. In fact, he had arranged for her to travel to Austin to surprise him at work for Thanksgiving, an occasion meant to bring the family together amid their fears over safety in Honduras.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, cited an immigration judge’s deportation order from 2015 as the basis for Any’s removal. However, Pomerleau contested this assertion, highlighting the lack of evidence provided to his client and questioning the validity of the decade-old claim.
Despite a federal judge issuing an emergency order to prevent Any’s immediate removal from Massachusetts or the U.S., the deportation proceeded. As Any grapples with the aftermath in Honduras, she expressed her devastation to The Boston Globe, lamenting the abrupt disruption to her college dream and worrying about her educational future.
The community at Babson College, where Any was pursuing her studies, has yet to comment on the situation. As the case unfolds, the implications of Any’s deportation serve as a stark reminder of the complexities and consequences of immigration policies on individuals and families seeking refuge and opportunities in the United States.
The circumstances surrounding Any’s deportation underscore the challenges faced by immigrants navigating the legal system and the human toll of abrupt and contentious enforcement actions. The story of Any Lucía López Belloza serves as a poignant example of the personal sacrifices and uncertainties experienced by many individuals striving to build better lives for themselves and their loved ones.