Judge dismisses case of deported Babson student, attorney appeals

Attorney says Boston was the only court that made sense to file the case after the student was detained at Logan Airport and deported to Honduras

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge in Boston has dismissed the case of a Babson College student who was wrongfully deported to Honduras, but her attorney has already filed an appeal. The student, Any Lucia Lopez Balloza, was detained at Logan Airport while visiting family in November and then deported, despite the fact that federal authorities have acknowledged she was wrongfully deported. Her attorney says Boston was the only court that made sense to file the case because they didn't know where Lopez Balloza was after being detained by ICE.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges faced by immigrants and international students who encounter issues with immigration authorities, as well as the legal complexities around wrongful deportation cases. It also raises questions about the transparency and accountability of federal immigration enforcement agencies.

The details

According to court documents, Judge Richard Stearns dismissed the case, saying the court does not have jurisdiction over the case. Attorney Todd Pomerleau, who represents Lopez Balloza, said he has already filed an appeal. Pomerleau explained that they filed the suit in Boston because that was the only court that made sense, as ICE would not tell them where Lopez Balloza was after she was detained. Federal authorities have acknowledged that Lopez Balloza was wrongfully deported and offered her a flight back to the U.S., but she declined over fears she would be detained again.

  • In November, Lopez Balloza was detained at Logan Airport while visiting family.
  • Last month, federal authorities offered Lopez Balloza a flight back to the U.S.

The players

Any Lucia Lopez Balloza

A 20-year-old Babson College student who was wrongfully deported to Honduras.

Todd Pomerleau

The attorney representing Lopez Balloza, who has filed an appeal after the judge dismissed the case.

Judge Richard Stearns

The federal judge in Boston who dismissed the case, saying the court does not have jurisdiction.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal immigration enforcement agency that detained and deported Lopez Balloza, and refused to provide information about her whereabouts to her attorney.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you can't figure out where your client is, it makes sense to sue where they were arrested, where their lawyer is, where their witnesses are and that's exactly what we did here.”

— Todd Pomerleau, Attorney representing Any Lucia Lopez Balloza

“ICE wouldn't tell us where she was, they wouldn't answer the phone, they wouldn't respond to any of our requests to find out where she was.”

— Todd Pomerleau, Attorney representing Any Lucia Lopez Balloza

“If she came back, it would have jeopardized her future as far as her school. She probably would have flunked out of her freshman year because she would be in a jail cell.”

— Todd Pomerleau, Attorney representing Any Lucia Lopez Balloza

“I mean we're not going to have her traumatized anymore, enough is enough.”

— Todd Pomerleau, Attorney representing Any Lucia Lopez Balloza

What’s next

The judge's decision to dismiss the case has been appealed by Lopez Balloza's attorney, Todd Pomerleau. The appeal will now move forward in the legal system.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants and international students when dealing with the complexities of the U.S. immigration system, as well as the need for greater transparency and accountability from federal agencies like ICE. The appeal of the judge's dismissal will be an important next step in seeking justice for Lopez Balloza and addressing the broader issues raised by her wrongful deportation.