Apology for College Student’s Deportation: A Cautionary Tale

Wed Jan 14 2026 22:38:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent courtroom revelation, the Trump administration expressed regret for improperly deporting Babson College student Lucia Lopez Belloza, highlighting issues of due process and immigration law errors.

The Trump administration has issued an apology in court for the deportation of Lucia Lopez Belloza, a Babson College freshman, who was mistakenly removed from the U.S. while under a court order. Despite the administration's apology, they argued that the error should not impact her case due to timing issues with the legal filing. Lopez Belloza, who is currently studying remotely from Honduras, remains affected by the bureaucratic oversight. This incident raises questions about the enforcement of immigration laws and the importance of due process.

A significant error in immigration enforcement came to light when Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College freshman, was deported back to Honduras while she was attempting to return home for Thanksgiving. This occurred despite an emergency court order prohibiting her removal, illustrating serious gaps in the processing of immigration cases.

Lopez Belloza's incident reveals systemic flaws in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) procedures, as an officer mistakenly believed the order was no longer valid once she had left Massachusetts. In court, a government representative admitted, “On behalf of the government, we want to sincerely apologize,” acknowledging that the deportation was a mistake made by one individual.

Currently under the care of her grandparents in Honduras, Lopez Belloza remains unable to return to her studies in person. Her attorney criticized the government, stating that she was deprived of her due process rights. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns expressed sympathy for Lopez Belloza, recognizing her as a victim of a bureaucratic oversight. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to judicial orders and the potential impact of immigration policies on individuals' lives.