A federal judge in Massachusetts has dismissed a legal petition filed on behalf of a 19-year-old college student who was deported to Honduras despite a court order blocking her removal. The ruling centers on procedural timing and jurisdiction rather than the underlying dispute over her deportation.
Judge Dismisses Deportation Challenge by College Student
A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed for Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old college student who was deported from the United States during the Thanksgiving period.
The decision was issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns in Massachusetts.
The judge ruled that Lopez Belloza’s legal team missed the deadline to file the petition in Massachusetts before immigration authorities transferred her to a detention facility in Texas.
Court Says Filing Opportunity Was Missed
In his ruling, Judge Stearns said the student’s lawyers had time to file the petition earlier.
“Counsel was hired the same day she was detained and had ample opportunity to file a petition in Massachusetts,” the judge wrote.
Because the filing occurred after Lopez Belloza had already been moved to Texas, the court concluded it did not have jurisdiction to consider the petition.
Background of the Deportation Case
Lopez Belloza entered the United States from Honduras in 2014 with her family when she was about 8 years old.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an immigration judge ordered her removal from the country in 2015.
Officials say she remained in the United States after that order.
The college freshman said she was detained by immigration authorities while preparing to board a flight from Massachusetts to Texas to surprise her parents for Thanksgiving.
She has been living in Honduras since November.
Judge Says Return Opportunity Was Declined
The ruling also noted that Lopez Belloza declined a government-arranged flight that could have returned her to the United States.
Judge Stearns said rejecting the flight eliminated the court’s remaining jurisdiction over the case.
“The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this court’s only remaining basis for jurisdiction,” the judge wrote.
He also said any potential grounds for civil contempt against the government ended once authorities complied with orders to facilitate her return.
Dispute Over Government Flight Offer
Lopez Belloza previously said that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer offered her a government flight back to Texas.
According to her, the officer suggested she would likely be released if she returned to the United States.
However, her attorneys said official government filings indicated she could be detained again and deported if she returned.
Her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, described the offer as a “trap” intended to re-detain and remove her again.
Student Responds to Situation
Lopez Belloza said she initially hoped the flight would allow her to return home.
“I was excited when I heard there was a flight that would take me back home, back to my community, my family,” she said.
However, she said legal filings made her doubt that she would be released if she accepted the flight.
“I have tried to trust what officials have said,” she added, saying she felt promises had been broken.
Government Response
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said ICE attempted to help facilitate Lopez Belloza’s return to the United States.
According to the agency, she did not appear for the arranged flight and did not respond to follow-up attempts to contact her.
Officials said details about future law enforcement actions are not disclosed for security reasons.
Appeal Filed
Lopez Belloza’s legal team has filed a notice of appeal, seeking to challenge the federal judge’s decision.
The case could now move to a higher court for further review.
Case Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Student | Any Lucia Lopez Belloza |
| Age | 19 |
| Country of Origin | Honduras |
| Entered U.S. | 2014 |
| Removal Order | 2015 |
| Deportation | Thanksgiving period |
| Current Location | Honduras |
| Court Decision | Habeas petition dismissed |
| Next Step | Appeal filed |
