A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to facilitate the return of a Massachusetts college student who was deported to Honduras despite a court order blocking her removal.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns on Friday directed federal officials to outline a plan to bring Any Lucia Lopez Belloza back to the United States by Feb. 27, calling her deportation a mistake that must be corrected.
Lopez Belloza, 19, is a freshman at Babson College. She was detained in November at Logan International Airport while returning home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Two days later, she was placed on a flight to Honduras, even though a judge had issued an order temporarily barring her deportation.
In his ruling, Stearns said the removal occurred in violation of that order and emphasized that the executive branch must comply with court directives. He instructed the government to take steps to facilitate her return and to report back to the court with details of how it plans to do so.
Government attorneys previously acknowledged that Lopez Belloza’s deportation was carried out in error but argued that returning her could present legal complications. They have said she may still be subject to a prior removal order and questioned whether she would qualify for a student visa.
Lopez Belloza entered the United States with her family when she was a child and has lived in the country for more than a decade. Since her deportation, she has been staying with relatives in Honduras and continuing her studies remotely while her case proceeds in court.
The case highlights ongoing legal disputes over immigration enforcement and the extent of judicial authority in removal proceedings. Advocates for Lopez Belloza say the ruling reinforces the requirement that federal agencies follow court orders, while government lawyers maintain that immigration cases often involve complex and overlapping legal issues.
A further hearing is expected later this month as the court reviews the government’s compliance plan.