Justice Delayed, But Not Denied for College Student

A judge in the United States has given the government a deadline to fix a mistake that led to the deportation of a college student.

Key Details

• Student's Name: Any Lucia Lopez Belloza
• Age: 19
• College: Babson College in Massachusetts
• Destination: Texas (to visit family for Thanksgiving)
• Deported To: Honduras

The Mistake

• Judge Richard Stearns gave the government 21 days to fix the error.
• Suggested Solution: Issue a student visa for Lopez Belloza.
• Consequences if Not Fixed: Judge might order her return or hold the government in contempt.

Timeline of Events

• November 20: Lopez Belloza was arrested at the airport.
• November 21: Her lawyer sued to stop her deportation. A judge ordered she not be deported or moved out of Massachusetts for 72 hours.
• November 22: She was already moved to Texas and deported to Honduras.

Current Situation

• Lopez Belloza is currently in Honduras with her grandparents.
• The judge said he cannot hear her case because she is no longer in Massachusetts.

Government's Response

• A government lawyer apologized, stating an officer made a mistake.
• The officer did not properly flag the court order, assuming it no longer applied because she was out of Massachusetts.

Judge's Statement

• Judge Stearns called the situation a tragic and preventable mistake.
• He hopes the government will fix it soon.

No Comments

• The Justice Department did not comment.
• Her lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.

Broader Implications

• This situation highlights how easily things can go wrong.
• It underscores the importance of following court orders.
• The government has a chance to make things right.