ICE Agents Target Family of Deported College Student

Austin, TX – The family of Any Lucia López Belloza, a 19-year-old college student recently deported to Honduras, claims they were subjected to an intimidating visit by immigration agents at their Texas home this past Sunday. The alleged encounter occurred just days after López Belloza, a student at Babson College in Massachusetts, was detained and swiftly removed from the U.S. while attempting to visit her family for Thanksgiving.

Alleged Confrontation at Austin Residence

According to Francis López, the student’s father, immigration agents arrived at their Austin residence in three unmarked vehicles. López recounted to the New York Times that as he was washing his car, an agent wearing a green vest emblazoned with “ERO” (Enforcement and Removal Operations) reportedly rushed toward him. Fearing for his safety, López stated he retreated into his backyard and secured a gate, only for the agent to force it open and enter the property.

López then sought refuge inside his home, locking the back door. He claims the agents remained on the property for approximately two hours before departing, never attempting to knock on the door or communicate with the family. Kristin Etter, an attorney representing the family, corroborated this account, telling the New York Times that the agents “did not have any papers or any warrant out.” Etter further noted that the family’s home appeared to be the sole destination where the unmarked vehicles stopped, raising questions about the specificity of the visit.

Student’s Swift Deportation

The incident at the family home follows the abrupt deportation of Any Lucia López Belloza on November 20. The Babson College student was detained at Boston Logan International Airport while en route to surprise her family in Austin for the Thanksgiving holiday. Within 48 hours of her detention, she was deported to Honduras, a nation she had left at the tender age of seven when her family immigrated to the United States.

Conflicting Claims Over Deportation Order

The circumstances surrounding López Belloza’s deportation are mired in conflicting accounts regarding her immigration status. The family maintains they were never officially notified of any deportation order concerning Any Lucia. However, immigration authorities contend that an immigration judge issued an order for López Belloza’s removal in 2015, asserting she had “illegally stayed in the country since.”

Todd Pomerleau, a lawyer for the deported student, has publicly stated that he has been unable to locate any official record of such a deportation order. He further alleges that her deportation may have violated an emergency court order that was previously issued, suggesting potential procedural irregularities in her removal.

Legal Battle and Family’s History

Adding another layer to the complex situation, the family’s petition for asylum was reportedly denied about a decade ago. Despite this, the family asserts they were never informed of any subsequent deportation mandate that would apply to Any Lucia. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding either the alleged visit to the family’s home or the specifics of López Belloza’s deportation.

This case highlights the ongoing tensions and legal ambiguities faced by families navigating the U.S. immigration system, especially when enforcement actions occur without clear communication or documented orders. The family of the deported student now faces an uncertain future, grappling with the absence of their daughter and the unsettling encounter with immigration agents at their doorstep.

Source: The Guardian