U.S. Judge Dismisses Case of Deported Student After Flight Decline

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman at Babson College in Massachusetts, was deported to Honduras after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Boston Logan International Airport in November 2025. Lopez Belloza, who immigrated to the United States from Honduras at the age of eight, was reportedly unaware of a final order of removal issued against her when she was eleven. Following her detention, she filed a lawsuit seeking to challenge her deportation.

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On March 6, 2026, U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns dismissed Lopez Belloza's case, stating that her decision to decline a flight arranged by ICE to return to the U.S. meant the court no longer had jurisdiction over her case. Stearns had previously ordered the administration to facilitate her return after a judicial error led to her deportation despite an order barring her removal for 72 hours. The judge noted that had Lopez Belloza boarded the flight, the judicial order would have remained in effect, allowing her the opportunity to file a new case in Texas to contest her detention.

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Stearns emphasized the implications of Lopez Belloza's choice, stating, "The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this court's only remaining basis for jurisdiction." Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza's attorney, indicated plans to appeal the ruling, expressing concerns over the legal ramifications of the case.

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Critics of the administration's handling of Lopez Belloza's case have raised concerns about the treatment of undocumented students and the legal processes surrounding deportation. The situation has sparked discussions about the rights of individuals facing deportation and the responsibilities of immigration authorities to adhere to judicial orders.

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Lopez Belloza's legal team is preparing to appeal the dismissal of her case, which may lead to further scrutiny of the judicial and immigration processes involved. The outcome of the appeal could have broader implications for similar cases involving undocumented students and their rights within the U.S. immigration system.

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• “The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this court's only remaining basis for jurisdiction,” — Richard Stearns, U.S. District Judge

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• “Stearns said had she boarded the plane, the judicial order barring her swift deportation would have remained in effect, giving her "ample opportunity" to file a new case in Texas to challenge her detention.” — Richard Stearns, U.S. District Judge

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