Babson College Student Detained and Deported to Honduras by Immigration Authorities

A Babson College freshman was unexpectedly detained by immigration authorities at Boston’s Logan Airport and rapidly deported to Honduras, leaving her family and supporters searching for answers. The case highlights concerns about immigration enforcement, outdated removal orders, and the growing vulnerability of individuals with unresolved immigration cases. This incident has drawn attention to how quickly deportations can occur, even for long-term residents.

Student Detained at Logan Airport Before Thanksgiving Trip

A Surprise Trip Turns into a Crisis

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a first-year business student at Babson College, planned to surprise her family in Texas for Thanksgiving. According to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, she had lived in the United States since early childhood after immigrating from Honduras with her family.

She successfully passed through airport security at Logan Airport but was stopped right before boarding her flight. Pomerleau stated that immigration officers offered no explanation for her detention, leaving the student “confused and frightened.”

Transfer to ICE and Sudden Deportation

Following her unexpected stop, Lopez Belloza was taken to the Burlington ICE field office before being flown to Texas. Within hours, she was removed from the United States and sent to Honduras — a country she had not lived in since she was a child.

Both the Department of Homeland Security and Babson College did not immediately comment on the incident.

Family Discovers Her Whereabouts After a Desperate Search

Two Days Without Answers

After nearly 48 hours of no communication, Lopez Belloza managed to call her family from Honduras on Saturday. She had reached her grandparents’ home after being swiftly deported. Her family and friends described the ordeal as terrifying and surreal.

Community Support and Shock

Family friend Ricky Soto, who helped arrange the Thanksgiving surprise and purchased her plane tickets, was shocked at how rapidly events unfolded. Soto works in a Texas tailor shop with Lopez Belloza’s father and considers the family his own.

He described the situation as “unreal,” emphasizing how traumatic the experience must have been for the young student.

A Hidden Removal Order From 2017

Unknown Immigration Case Resurfaces

According to Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council, Lopez Belloza appeared to have had a removal order issued around 2017. Neither she nor her family knew the order existed.

Gupta explained that many individuals receive immigration court decisions without ever being aware of them — notices often arrive at outdated addresses, and hearings may proceed in their absence.

Millions Have Final Orders They Don’t Know About

At the start of the second Trump administration, approximately 1.3 million people had final removal orders in the system. Many, Gupta said, still have no idea they are subject to deportation.

Historically, these cases were not aggressively prioritized. However, Gupta emphasized that the current administration is pursuing a strict and sweeping deportation strategy, leaving people like Lopez Belloza at high risk.

A Promising Student’s Future in Limbo

A Family’s Pride and a Sudden Setback

Soto recalled the joy in Lopez Belloza’s household when her father celebrated her acceptance into Babson College. She earned a scholarship and had been thriving academically as a business major.

Now, after her sudden deportation, she is unsure whether she can complete her final exams or continue her studies at all. Attorney Pomerleau spoke with her for the first time on Monday as the family begins exploring legal options.