College Student Remains in Honduras After Deportation Mistake

Any Lucia López Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College freshman, chose not to board a flight back to the U.S. after being mistakenly deported.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A 19-year-old college student in Massachusetts, Any Lucia López Belloza, was mistakenly deported to Honduras in November 2025. A judge ordered the Trump administration to bring her back, but when the government arranged a flight on Friday, Ms. López decided not to board, fearing she would be immediately detained and deported again upon arrival.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing issues with the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, including allegations of officials defying court orders and detaining individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years, even if they do not have legal status. It also raises questions about due process and the treatment of undocumented immigrants, especially young people brought to the U.S. as children.

The details

Ms. López, who has a green card application pending, was detained at Boston's airport in November 2025 as she was about to board a flight home for Thanksgiving. She was then shackled and deported to Honduras the next day, even though a judge had ordered her not to be removed. The government acknowledged an ICE officer made a mistake in not flagging her file for further review. A judge then gave the administration a two-week deadline to bring her back, but Ms. López chose not to board the flight, believing she would be detained again upon arrival.

  • On November 20, 2025, Ms. López was detained at Boston Logan International Airport.
  • On November 21, 2025, a federal judge ordered Ms. López not to be removed from the U.S.
  • On November 22, 2025, ICE deported Ms. López to Honduras anyway.
  • On February 13, 2026, a judge gave the Trump administration a two-week deadline to bring Ms. López back to the U.S.
  • On February 27, 2026, the government arranged a flight for Ms. López to return, but she chose not to board.

The players

Any Lucia López Belloza

A 19-year-old freshman at Babson College in Massachusetts who was mistakenly deported to Honduras in November 2025, despite having a green card application pending.

Todd Pomerleau

Ms. López's lawyer, who said she was "treated like a terrorist" during her detention and deportation.

Judge Richard G. Stearns

A federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to bring Ms. López back to the U.S., threatening to hold them in contempt of court.

Greg Casar

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Texas who said Ms. López's case fits a pattern of the Trump administration defying court orders on immigration.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that mistakenly deported Ms. López and then tried to persuade her to return to the U.S., wrongly suggesting she would likely be released upon arrival.

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What they’re saying

“She asked if she would be freed upon arrival or if she would be detained again. He said very likely you will be freed, and that the only way to know for sure is to get on the plane.”

— Ivonne Rodriguez, Spokeswoman, FWD.us (The New York Times)

“Wisdom counsels that redemption may be found by acknowledging and fixing our own errors.”

— Judge Richard G. Stearns (The New York Times)

“I want to keep contributing to the country I call home. Instead, I'm being treated as if I do not belong, as if my life does not matter.”

— Any Lucia López Belloza (The New York Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to clarify his order and require ICE to return Ms. López to Massachusetts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by undocumented immigrants, even those who have lived in the U.S. for years and are actively pursuing legal status. It raises concerns about due process and the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, which appear to include defying court orders.