US apologizes to student mistakenly deported; won't fix the situation (Feb update: a court has ordered her return)

essentialsaltes · Jan 18, 2026

US apologizes to student mistakenly deported

A federal apology is nice, but the US won't fix the situation for college student deported over Thanksgiving

Federal officials have issued an apology after a college student was deportedduring Thanksgiving break, acknowledging mistakes in a case that has drawn renewed attention to the human impact of immigration enforcement. [Bolded link is a far superior AP article with much more detail: "But the government also acknowledged it violated the judge’s order." But it was an honest mistake, so nothing can be done.]

The student was removed from the United States while visiting family over the holiday, despite having unresolved legal matters connected to their immigration status. Advocates and educators criticized the deportation, saying it should not have occurred before those issues were reviewed.

Following public scrutiny, government officials acknowledged errors in the handling of the case and said they are reviewing internal procedures to prevent similar incidents. Details about how the deportation was authorized have not been fully disclosed.

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Background from the closed thread.

A very special holiday edition of "Why do people hate ICE?"

19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal

A 19-year-old college student who was on her way to surprise her family for Thanksgiving break was detained at a Boston airport and later deported despite a federal judge's order blocking her removal, according to her attorney.

Hours after her detainment, court documents obtained by ABC News show that a federal judge ordered the government not to remove the 19-year-old from the U.S. and not to transfer her outside of Massachusetts.

But according to Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza was transferred that evening to Texas and deported to Honduras the next day.

Laodicean60 · Jan 18, 2026

Law suit would be the smart thing to do.

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN · Jan 18, 2026

Laodicean60 said:
Law suit would be the smart thing to do.

I'm sure there's going to be a lot of lawsuits.I seen on the news. That ICE beat a store owner, when he went to greet them. The family is suing for 50 million dollars.

Laodicean60 · Jan 18, 2026

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN said:
I'm sure there's going to be a lot of lawsuits.I seen on the news. That ICE beat a store owner, when he went to greet them. The family is suing for 50 million dollars.

This is the appropriate action, not violence.

7thKeeper · Jan 18, 2026

Laodicean60 said:
This is the appropriate action, not violence.

Would have also been on part of ICE.

Servus · Jan 18, 2026

The keyword being "mistakenly". Similar has probably happened in every administration going back to JFK if not further.

essentialsaltes · Jan 18, 2026

Servus said:
The keyword being "mistakenly". Similar has probably happened in every administration going back to JFK if not further.

If you "mistakenly" take an apple from the greengrocer, do you not put it back where you found it when she calls your attention to it? Otherwise you are a thief.

Servus · Jan 18, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
If you "mistakenly" take an apple from the greengrocer, do you not put it back where you found it when she calls your attention to it? Otherwise you are a thief.

It would depend on how much bureaucracy was involved.

DaisyDay · Jan 19, 2026

Servus said:
The keyword being "mistakenly". Similar has probably happened in every administration going back to JFK if not further.

Is refusal to follow due process a mistake or deliberate?

NxNW · Jan 21, 2026

DaisyDay said:
Is refusal to follow due process a mistake or deliberate?

In this case, we know it's deliberate, because the Trump administration is saying so. (Note that the link includes disguised profanity spoken by Trump administration officials.)

essentialsaltes · Feb 7, 2026

Trump administration declines judge’s request to return college student who was deported over Thanksgiving break

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley argued in a court filing that the Secretary of State lacks the legal authority to unilaterally issue visas. Foley said that if Lopez Belloza were returned to the U.S., she would remain subject to immediate detention and removal based on a final deportation order.

Nithavela · Feb 7, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
Trump administration declines judge’s request to return college student who was deported over Thanksgiving break
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley argued in a court filing that the Secretary of State lacks the legal authority to unilaterally issue visas. Foley said that if Lopez Belloza were returned to the U.S., she would remain subject to immediate detention and removal based on a final deportation order.

Good call, she's probably turned into a narco terrorist by now.

essentialsaltes · Feb 7, 2026

Nithavela said:
Good call, she's probably turned into a narco terrorist by now.

They're not sending us their best and brightest; she doesn't even have a college degree.

FreeinChrist · Feb 7, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
US apologizes to student mistakenly deported
A federal apology is nice, but the US won't fix the situation for college student deported over Thanksgiving
Federal officials have issued an apology after a college student was deportedduring Thanksgiving break, acknowledging mistakes in a case that has drawn renewed attention to the human impact of immigration enforcement. [Bolded link is a far superior AP article with much more detail: "But the government also acknowledged it violated the judge’s order." But it was an honest mistake, so nothing can be done.]

The student was removed from the United States while visiting family over the holiday, despite having unresolved legal matters connected to their immigration status. Advocates and educators criticized the deportation, saying it should not have occurred before those issues were reviewed.

Following public scrutiny, government officials acknowledged errors in the handling of the case and said they are reviewing internal procedures to prevent similar incidents. Details about how the deportation was authorized have not been fully disclosed.

--

Background from the closed thread.

A very special holiday edition of "Why do people hate ICE?"

19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal
A 19-year-old college student who was on her way to surprise her family for Thanksgiving break was detained at a Boston airport and later deported despite a federal judge's order blocking her removal, according to her attorney.

Hours after her detainment, court documents obtained by ABC News show that a federal judge ordered the government not to remove the 19-year-old from the U.S. and not to transfer her outside of Massachusetts.

But according to Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza was transferred that evening to Texas and deported to Honduras the next day.

This is truly disgusting and shows that the Trump et al do not care to follow the constitution and that cruelty is the point. They are ignoring a court order - that is ignoring the constitution.

Perpetual Student · Feb 7, 2026

FreeinChrist said:
This is truly disgusting and shows that the Trump et al do not care to follow the constitution and that cruelty is the point. They are ignoring a court order - that is ignoring the constitution.

Court order? Court sugggestion.

FreeinChrist · Feb 7, 2026

Yes, a suggestion.
I was thinking of a recent story where the US lawyer asked to be found or contimpt so she could get some sleep, and said she cannot make ICE comply with court orders.

essentialsaltes · Feb 14, 2026

FreeinChrist said:
Yes, a suggestion.

Now it's an order.

Trump administration ordered to return college student who was deported over Thanksgiving

The Trump administration was ordered Friday to facilitate the return to the U.S. of the 19-year-old college student who was deported over Thanksgiving despite a court order blocking her removal.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns directed the government to facilitate the return of Any Lucia Lopez Belloza within 14 days.

"The court's hope was to avoid finding Respondents in civil contempt for that violation by giving the government an opportunity to voluntarily correct what, all parties agree, was a mistake," he wrote. "The Secretary of State has, regrettably, declined the invitation, requiring further intervention from this court."

Nithavela · Feb 15, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
Now it's an order.

Trump administration ordered to return college student who was deported over Thanksgiving
The Trump administration was ordered Friday to facilitate the return to the U.S. of the 19-year-old college student who was deported over Thanksgiving despite a court order blocking her removal.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns directed the government to facilitate the return of Any Lucia Lopez Belloza within 14 days.

"The court's hope was to avoid finding Respondents in civil contempt for that violation by giving the government an opportunity to voluntarily correct what, all parties agree, was a mistake," he wrote. "The Secretary of State has, regrettably, declined the invitation, requiring further intervention from this court."

The only way that judge is going to get her back into the USA is if he straps on a red bandana and does a Rambo 2 style rescue mission.

Aryeh Jay · Feb 15, 2026

She should have to reimburse the government for all the money we have spent on her.

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US apologizes to student mistakenly deported; won't fix the situation (Feb update: a court has ordered her return)

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