Any Lucía López Belloza’s lawyer said his client’s deportation violated a court order. Now he’s fighting to bring her back to the U.S.
AUSTIN, Texas — A college freshman from Austin is now in Honduras after immigration officials arrested her as she tried to fly home from Boston to surprise her family for Thanksgiving.
Any Lucía López Belloza’s lawyer said his client’s deportation violated a court order.
Now, this case is drawing national attention.
During a phone call with KVUE on Monday, Francis López, López Belloza’s father, said while he and his daughter are both doing better, “it’s been difficult for my family.” He said López Belloza is now with her grandparents in Honduras, a country the family fled in 2014 to escape violence.
The 19-year-old graduated from IDEA Rundberg in Austin before heading to Babson College near Boston.
In a statement to KVUE on Monday, IDEA Public Schools wrote, “We understand that news like this may prompt a range of emotions within our community and we want to be clear that this matter is solely under federal jurisdiction. IDEA is not involved in the situation and does not have access to additional information.”
Federal officials confirm immigration agents arrested López Belloza on Nov. 20 as she tried to board a plane at Boston’s Logan Airport. In a statement to KVUE on Monday, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said López Belloza was in the country illegally.
“An immigration judge issued her a final order removal in 2015,” wrote McLaughlin. “She received full due process and was removed to Honduras.”
But López Belloza’s lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, told KVUE’s partners at the Austin American-Stateman the family had asylum proceedings underway until 2017. He also told the Associated Press his client was not aware of any removal order.
“They’re holding her responsible for something they claim happened a decade ago that she’s completely unaware of and not showing any of the proof,” Pomerleau told the AP on Nov. 28.
He argues the government violated his client’s due process rights by detaining her without showing a removal order and impeding her right to counsel, telling the Statesman on Nov. 28, the events leading to the deportation were “an alphabet soup of constitutional violations.”
Pomerleau told the outlet after López Belloza’s arrest and before her removal from the U.S., a federal judge signed off on a deportation stay through a habeas petition arguing his client’s rights were violated. He told the Statesman he plans to continue the fight in court to bring his client back to the U.S.
A spokesperson for Babson College referred KVUE to a message posted on the school website on Monday by campus leadership saying they’re focused on “supporting the student and their family.”
“Relevant faculty and staff have been informed so they can provide appropriate academic and community support in the student’s absence,” the post read.
López Belloza’s mom set up an online fundraiser to cover her daughter’s legal and living costs.
“With your financial support, we can alleviate her financial burdens and allow her to focus on continuing the education she deserves,” wrote Ana Belloza.
KVUE requested an interview with López Belloza and Pomerleau through the lawyer’s firm but were told both were unavailable on Monday.