A 19-year-old Babson College freshman was deported to Honduras just days before Thanksgiving, despite a federal court order temporarily blocking her removal, according to her attorney.

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza had passed through security at Boston Logan International Airport on November 20 when she was stopped due to an alleged issue with her boarding pass. Immigration officials then detained her, and within 48 hours, she was flown first to Texas, and then to Honduras, the country she left at age seven.

Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza’s attorney, said the student was unaware of any outstanding deportation order. According to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a judge ordered her deportation in 2015. However, Pomerleau noted that the only legal record he could locate showed her case had been closed in 2017. "They’re holding her responsible for something they claim happened a decade ago that she’s completely unaware of and not showing any of the proof," Pomerleau said.

ICE moves student despite emergency court ruling

The day after her arrest, a federal judge issued an emergency order preventing the government from removing Lopez Belloza from Massachusetts or the country for at least 72 hours. Despite that, ICE proceeded with the deportation. Neither ICE nor Babson College responded to the Associated Press' (AP) requests for comment.

Now staying with her grandparents in Honduras, Lopez Belloza told The Boston Globe that she had been excited to surprise her family in Texas and share news of her first semester studying business at Babson. "She’s absolutely heartbroken," Pomerleau said. "Her college dream has just been shattered."

"That was my dream," Lopez Belloza added. "I’m losing everything."

The case has raised legal and ethical concerns over immigration enforcement, particularly the execution of deportation orders without full transparency or proper notification. Lopez Belloza’s legal team continues to seek clarification and remedy in what they describe as a violation of due process.

Surge in ICE detentions 

ICE's detention capacity has surged to record levels, with tens of thousands being held at any given time. Federal resources have been shifted into deportation work. Thousands of federal agents and a significant share of FBI personnel have been reassigned to support ICE operations, and even Pentagon-linked military units have been detailed to immigration enforcement.​

Additionally, a series of policy changes and court rulings has enabled fast‑track deportations, including rapid removal to "third countries" and expanded summary procedures. However, some judicial decisions have temporarily halted the broadest expansions.​

Reports highlight the use of "deportation traps" in and around courthouses, as well as post‑hearing arrests, framing them as tactics that undermine due process while formally remaining within immigration law.​

ICE raids and deportations reach far beyond people with serious criminal records, affecting long‑term residents, workers, students, and even lawful immigrants caught in mass operations or technical status issues.​

Additionally, communities report pervasive fear, with protests erupting in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago after high‑profile raids and militarized operations involving helicopters, tactical gear, and aggressive home and workplace entries.​