In a surprising turn of events, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has acknowledged that it "made a mistake" in deporting a 19-year-old college student, Any López Belloza, who was raised in Austin. This incident occurred while she was attempting to return to her hometown for Thanksgiving.
According to her attorney, the federal government admitted that it violated a court ruling by sending López Belloza back to Honduras. A student at Babson College, located just outside of Boston, López Belloza was detained while boarding her flight to Austin before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Legal representatives for the Trump administration indicated this week that although there was a prior order for her to leave the country, the agents should not have initiated the deportation process. This is especially significant because a federal judge had explicitly barred immigration authorities from proceeding with her deportation while she was in custody in Boston.
Despite this judicial order, López Belloza was flown to Texas the very next day and subsequently deported to Honduras. On Tuesday, attorneys for ICE referred to this unfortunate action as a "mistake."
The news of ICE's admission came to light through The Associated Press. Efforts to obtain additional comments from ICE regarding the case by KUT have yet to yield a response.
Todd Pomerleau, López Belloza's lawyer, expressed surprise at the government's admission of fault in court. He has since filed motions aimed at facilitating her return to the United States. "When the government issues an apology like this, which is quite rare nowadays, I tend to believe it’s genuine," he remarked. "I am aware of various methods to expedite this process, as there are certainly slower routes as well. My goal is to pursue the fastest option available."
In the wake of López Belloza's deportation, Pomerleau has completed paperwork seeking permanent residency for both her and her parents. His motion, submitted on Friday morning, outlined several possibilities for her return. A federal judge based in Boston will review these options and determine the subsequent steps, according to Pomerleau.
Speaking to CNN, López Belloza expressed her desire to reunite with her family in Texas and then return to Boston to continue her business studies. "I accept their apologies, and I genuinely hope this acknowledgment allows me to resume my education and reunite with my parents," she stated.
Describing her experience as "traumatizing," she expressed eagerness to return as swiftly as possible. Having fled Honduras with her mother at the age of seven, López Belloza has spent her formative years in Austin. ICE had previously informed KUT that a deportation order was issued against her in 2015 and that she had received "full due process." However, Pomerleau asserted that he found no active deportation order after her detention in November.
Pomerleau believes this week's admission from ICE significantly aids in restoring trust. He hopes to receive a judgment from the judge in the coming weeks. "I recognize this as an act of contrition, and I choose to assume good faith moving forward," he emphasized. "Prior to that apology, I was not inclined to do so."
