A 19-year-old Babson College student found herself in a harrowing situation when she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while trying to surprise her parents in Texas for Thanksgiving. Any Lucia Lopez Belloca, who entered the U.S. from Honduras as a child, learned on November 20 that she had a long-standing removal order against her.
Lopez was at Logan International Airport preparing to board her flight when federal agents informed her of the alleged order for her removal, a provision that she was reportedly unaware of until that moment. According to her lawyer, Todd Pomerlau, she had no knowledge of any legal proceedings regarding her immigration status since she arrived in the U.S. at the age of eight with her family in 2014. They had reportedly applied for asylum after entering the country through Mexico, but a removal order was issued in 2017 when Lopez was just eleven years old.
Nayna Gupta, part of the American Immigration Council, emphasized that cases like Lopez’s are common, where individuals may have received removal orders as young children without being informed. ICE stated that Lopez unlawfully entered the U.S. and was deported to Honduras on November 22, 2025.
Babson College addressed the situation in a letter to its student body, acknowledging the unsettling nature of the news and reiterating their commitment to support Lopez and her family, while also providing resources for those affected by the incident.
Advocates for immigration rights have indicated that it may be incredibly challenging to bring Lopez back to the U.S., illustrating the difficulty faced by many individuals in similar circumstances who may have been unaware of their immigration status. The lawsuit filed on her behalf claims that her Fifth Amendment right to due process was violated during her detainment.
This incident sheds light on the complex legal landscape surrounding immigration issues in the United States, particularly affecting young people caught in situations beyond their control. While the outcome remains uncertain, the case highlights the need for compassion and understanding in navigating the immigration system.