A federal judge in Massachusetts has dismissed a legal petition filed by a 19-year-old college student who was deported to Honduras despite a court order that had blocked her removal from the United States.
The case has drawn attention because the student claimed immigration officials deported her even though a judge had ordered that she should not be removed. The court ruling now shifts the legal battle to an appeals process as the student’s lawyer continues to challenge the decision.
Federal judge dismisses habeas petition
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled on Friday that the habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Any Lucia Lopez Belloza could not move forward in Massachusetts. The judge agreed with the government’s request to dismiss the case.
In his ruling, Stearns said Lopez Belloza’s legal team had enough time to file the petition in Massachusetts before she was transferred to a detention facility in Texas. Because the petition was not filed within that time frame, the court determined it no longer had jurisdiction over the matter.
The judge wrote that her legal counsel had been hired on the same day she was detained and therefore had an opportunity to file the petition earlier.
Student deported despite earlier court order
Lopez Belloza, a college freshman, said she was detained by immigration authorities while preparing to travel from Massachusetts to Texas during the Thanksgiving holiday. She had planned the trip as a surprise visit to see her parents.
However, immigration officials stopped her before the flight and placed her in custody. Soon after, she was deported to Honduras, where she has remained since November.
Her case gained attention because her deportation reportedly happened even though a federal judge had issued an order blocking her removal from the country.
Immigration history cited by DHS
The Department of Homeland Security said Lopez Belloza had been living in the United States without legal status for many years.
According to a DHS spokesperson, she entered the U.S. from Honduras with her family in 2014 when she was about eight years old. An immigration judge later issued an order in 2015 requiring her removal from the country.
Officials said she had remained in the United States for more than a decade after that order.
Court says she missed another legal opportunity
Judge Stearns also said Lopez Belloza missed another chance to challenge her detention.
The ruling stated that she could have filed a similar habeas petition in Texas after being transferred to a detention facility there. However, the court said she declined a government-arranged flight that would have allowed her to return to the United States to pursue the legal process.
According to the judge, refusing that flight meant the court no longer had a legal basis to continue the case.
He wrote that once she declined the travel arrangement, the court lost the only remaining jurisdiction it had to consider the matter.
Dispute over government flight offer
The offer of a government flight has become a key point of disagreement in the case.
Lopez Belloza said an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement told her she could return to Texas on a government flight and that she might be released once she arrived.
However, she later learned that government documents suggested something different. According to those filings, immigration authorities planned to detain her again and possibly deport her once more if she returned to the United States.
Because of this concern, Lopez Belloza decided not to take the flight.
Lawyer claims flight was a “trap”
Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, strongly criticized the government’s offer.
He said the flight appeared to be a “trap” that would have allowed authorities to re-detain the student and remove her from the country again.
Pomerleau argued that returning to the United States under those conditions could have put his client at risk of another deportation without resolving the legal dispute.
After the judge dismissed the petition, Pomerleau filed a notice indicating that the decision will be appealed.
Student speaks about broken promises
Lopez Belloza has spoken publicly about her experience since being deported.
She said she initially felt hopeful when she heard about the possibility of returning to the United States. The idea of going back to her community and being reunited with her family gave her optimism.
However, after reviewing the government’s legal filings, she believed the situation was different from what she had been told.
She said she had tried to trust the statements made by officials, especially after they apologized for what was described as a mistake. But she felt those promises were later broken.
Government says it tried to facilitate return
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security said the agency attempted to follow the court’s instructions and help facilitate Lopez Belloza’s return to the United States.
According to DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arranged a flight for her, but she did not appear for the scheduled travel.
The agency also said it tried to contact her several times without receiving a response.
DHS added that for security reasons, it does not disclose details about future law enforcement operations.
Legal battle likely to continue
Although the habeas petition has been dismissed, the legal fight surrounding Lopez Belloza’s deportation is far from over.
Her attorney’s decision to appeal means higher courts may now review the case. The appeal could examine whether immigration authorities properly followed the court order that initially blocked her removal.
For now, Lopez Belloza remains in Honduras while her legal team continues to challenge the ruling and seek a way for her to return to the United States. The case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding immigration enforcement, court authority, and the rights of individuals facing deportation.
