Trump administration ordered to return college student who was deported over Thanksgiving

The Trump administration has been instructed to assist in the repatriation of a 19-year-old college student who was wrongfully deported over Thanksgiving, despite a court order preventing her removal. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns has mandated that Any Lucia Lopez Belloza be returned to the United States within 14 days.

Judge Stearns emphasized the importance of acknowledging and rectifying mistakes, stating that the government has acknowledged its error in deporting Lopez Belloza and must now take steps to correct it. Lopez Belloza, who arrived in the U.S. from Honduras at the age of 8, was detained at a Boston airport by immigration authorities who claimed she had a removal order, of which she was unaware. Despite a federal judge’s order to halt her removal, she was deported to Honduras.

Following Lopez Belloza’s deportation, Judge Stearns gave the government an opportunity to correct the error and suggested that she be granted a student visa. However, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley argued that the secretary of state does not have the authority to unilaterally issue visas and that Lopez Belloza would face immediate detention and removal upon her return to the U.S.

In his recent ruling, Judge Stearns noted that the government had acknowledged violating the court order and failed to voluntarily correct the mistake. As a result, he has ordered an immigration court to assess Lopez Belloza’s due process rights and the legality of her removal. The government has been instructed to provide a status report outlining the actions taken to facilitate her return.

The case highlights the complexities of immigration law and the importance of upholding legal procedures to prevent wrongful deportations. It serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and adherence to judicial orders in immigration enforcement.