CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Babson College has reached out to its faculty and staff, urging them to provide academic and community support to a student who was recently deported to Honduras. Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old freshman, was detained at Boston Logan International Airport on November 20 while attempting to board a flight to Texas for a surprise Thanksgiving visit with her family.
According to her attorney, Lopez Belloza was deported to Honduras two days later, despite an existing court order that barred the government from relocating her out of Massachusetts or the United States. Having emigrated from Honduras at the age of seven, she is now staying with her grandparents.
Caitlin Capozzi, Babson College's dean of campus life, notified faculty and staff about Lopez Belloza's situation. In her communication, Capozzi emphasized the college's focus on supporting the student and her family while adhering to legal restrictions on sharing specific details. Relevant faculty and staff have been informed so they can provide appropriate academic and community support in the student’s absence, she stated.
Lopez Belloza, who is pursuing a business degree at Babson's Wellesley campus, has sparked a significant response from the college community regarding her unfortunate circumstances. Capozzi reassured that the institution is monitoring the situation closely and has provided resources for students affected by this distressing news.
In a message from Babson College President Stephen Spinelli, it was noted that the institution would refrain from further comments due to legal and privacy considerations. Spinelli acknowledged the unsettling nature of the news for students, faculty, and staff, emphasizing the college's commitment to community wellbeing.
Adding to the complexity of Lopez Belloza's case, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicated that an immigration judge had ordered her deportation in 2015. However, Todd Pomerleau, her attorney, stated he has not located any official record of this original deportation order in light of a court ruling against her removal.
