A Student's Sudden Journey Back to a Forgotten Home

Any Lucia López Belloza was all set to surprise her family for Thanksgiving after months apart. She had tickets, a plan, and excitement. But her journey took a sharp turn when she was detained at the airport, allegedly by ICE agents. She was handcuffed and arrested, leaving her confused and scared. The next day, a judge ordered a temporary halt to her deportation. But that didn't stop her from being sent back to Honduras the very next morning, a country she barely remembers leaving at age seven. Honduras is far from a safe haven. It's a place where gangs rule the streets, extorting families and recruiting young people. The homicide rate is alarmingly high, and political tensions are running hot. López now finds herself in the middle of this chaos, staying with her grandparents in San Pedro Sula. Her quick deportation has sparked global attention. Critics argue it's a clear example of the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies. Her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, calls it a "horror show. " He points out that López was never told why she was detained, was treated like a criminal, and was deported without a court hearing. The Trump administration claims their focus is on deporting dangerous criminals. But López had no criminal record. She was undocumented, which is a civil infraction, not a crime. A DHS spokesperson said she was arrested because an immigration judge ordered her removal in 2015. But her lawyer argues that even if such an order exists, it's outdated and invalid. López's family left Honduras in 2014 to escape the violence. San Pedro Sula was then known as the murder capital of the world. Gangs were forcing families to leave, and women and girls were particularly affected. Now, López is back in that dangerous environment, with no due process rights respected during her deportation. Her lawyer is awaiting an explanation from the US government. He hopes they will admit their mistake and bring her back. But he's prepared to fight if they don't. Meanwhile, López is trying to stay strong. She wants to continue her studies and see her family again. Her university, Babson College, is supporting her. But the road ahead is uncertain.