In a federal court hearing on Tuesday in Massachusetts, the Trump administration acknowledged that it made a mistake when it deported a college student flying home for Thanksgiving.
Any Lucia López Belloza, 19, a freshman at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., was detained at an airport and deported to Honduras in late November after trying to surprise her family with a visit for the holiday.
Despite the administration’s rare admission of error, the government has not moved to drop the case, and it has generally sought maximum authority to detain and deport noncitizens.
Some wrongfully deported migrants were returned to the United States to face further litigation with little fanfare. But in several high-profile cases, such as the expulsion of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, Trump officials have dug in on attempts to carry out deportations even when immigration officials make mistakes.
Ms. López was detained by immigration authorities on Nov. 20 at Boston Logan International Airport. She was flown to Honduras two days later, despite a court order signed on Nov. 21 barring her deportation while her case was still pending.
In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Ms. López said, “I accept their apologies.” She added: “I hope that based on this apology I am able to return back to my studies and also to be home with my parents.”
Since being deported, Ms. López’s family has faced intimidation from immigration authorities. Early last month, agents in three unmarked vehicles appeared at her parents’ home in Austin, Texas. One agent rushed at her father, Francis López, but did not detain him after Mr. López fled into his house and locked the door.
In the court hearing on Tuesday, Richard G. Stearns, a U.S. District Court judge appointed by President Bill Clinton, indicated that he hoped to find a solution so Ms. López could return to the United States and continue her studies.
The Trump administration’s immigration clampdown, which has resulted in thousands of deportations, has at times gone ahead in contradiction of court orders.
In one notable case, more than 200 migrants were flown to El Salvador in March despite a court order demanding that the planes turn back. Mr. Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, was returned in June only to face further detention and deportation threats.
Todd Pomerleau, Ms. López’s lawyer, said on CNN that he appreciated that the administration admitted its mistake, and he hoped that would lead to Ms. López’s swift return.
“It’s a rare apology,” Mr. Pomerleau said, but he added that “an apology without a remedy is a hollow apology.”
Adam Sella covers breaking news for The Times in Washington.
The post U.S. Says It Erred in Deporting Student Traveling for Thanksgiving appeared first on New York Times.
