College student deported during Thanksgiving: Why is Trump focusing on 'individuals similar to myself'?

A 19-year-old college student was taken into custody by immigration authorities while trying to fly home for Thanksgiving, raising concerns about why the Trump administration seems to be focusing on individuals like her.

Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a Babson College student originally from Honduras, was detained on November 20 at Boston Logan International Airport as she planned to surprise her family in Texas for the holiday. In an interview with ABC, she asked, Why are people like me, studying, working hard, pursuing our dreams, being targeted?

Lopez Belloza is among hundreds of thousands of migrants deported during President Trumps second term. Despite a federal judges order restricting her removal from the U.S. and from leaving Massachusetts, she was sent back to Honduras just days after her detention, according to documents obtained by ABC.

It feels so unfair, Lopez Belloza told the outlet. If there was an order, why did everything happen so quickly, within just three days?

The Department of Homeland Security stated that her deportation was based on a prior removal order from 2015. A spokesperson explained, She entered the country in 2014, and an immigration judge ordered her removal in 2015. She has remained in the U.S. illegally since then. Those who overstay should follow proper procedures to return legally.

Before her arrest, Lopez Belloza said she was pursuing what she called the American dream. My parents worked tirelessly to support my college education, she shared. I received strong financial aid and got into a college that really wanted me, and I wanted to be there.

She added, Being in college wasnt just my dream, it was my familys dream too. I was one of the first in my family to attend college. It felt like my hard work and my familys sacrifices were finally paying off.

Analysis: Deportation of College Student Highlights Policy Tensions

The recent detention and deportation of 19-year-old Babson College student Lucia Lopez Belloza underscores the complex intersection of immigration enforcement and individual circumstance. Despite pursuing higher education and having a federal judge’s order restricting her removal, she was returned to Honduras within days, raising questions about procedural consistency.

The Department of Homeland Security cites a prior removal order from 2015 as the legal basis for her deportation. This points to a broader policy focus on individuals with longstanding immigration violations, even when they are engaged in academic or professional advancement. Such cases illustrate the rigidity of current enforcement priorities under the Trump administration, particularly during the holiday season when travel and family reunions are common.

Lopez Belloza’s case also emphasizes the human dimension behind immigration statistics. Her pursuit of the American dream, supported by her family’s sacrifices, contrasts sharply with the legal framework applied in her removal. The incident highlights ongoing debates over how immigration policy balances law enforcement with the recognition of individual contributions and personal circumstances.

Sources:

• College student deported over Thanksgiving: Why is Trump targeting ‘people like me’?