Overview
- Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, 19, was detained at Boston Logan on Nov. 20 and flown to Honduras on Nov. 22 despite a Nov. 21 order directing that she not be removed or transferred out of Massachusetts.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter told the court the judge lacked jurisdiction because Lopez Belloza was already in Texas when the order issued and said her transfer prepared her removal rather than obscured her location.
- The government now says an immigration judge ordered removal in March 2016 and the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed an appeal in February 2017, noting potential avenues she could have pursued to challenge it.
- Her attorney argues she never received meaningful notice, says government databases did not show a removal order and that ICE was unreachable as she was moved, with a court deadline of Dec. 11 set for his formal response.
- Lopez Belloza describes being shackled and sleeping on a detention center floor; she is living with grandparents in Honduras and working with Babson College to complete finals remotely as the legal fight continues.