Babson College student deported to Honduras while flying home for Thanksgiving, despite emergency court order

A 19-year-old Babson College freshman was deported to Honduras last week while attempting to fly from Boston to Austin to surprise her family for Thanksgiving, even after a federal judge issued an emergency order to halt her removal for at least 72 hours. The case has ignited due-process questions and urgent efforts by her attorney to bring her back to the United States.

What happened at the airport

Family members say the first sign of trouble came at Boston Logan International Airport on November 20, when the student was told there was a problem with her boarding pass as she prepared to travel to Texas. The encounter escalated into an immigration detention and transfer to federal custody. By the following day, a federal judge issued an emergency stay of removal. Within roughly 48 hours of that order, she had been transported through multiple holding facilities and placed on a flight to Honduras.

Her lawyer contends the student had no access to counsel during key stages of the transfer and removal process, and that she was unaware of an old deportation order stemming from proceedings initiated when she was a child. Relatives believed the family’s long-running case had been closed years ago without a final removal order, noting she had previously traveled domestically without incident.

The legal dispute at the heart of the deportation

Immigration authorities say a 2015 removal order existed on her record. The student’s attorney disputes the applicability and execution of that order, pointing to the emergency stay that should have paused any removal while the court reviewed the case. He argues the rapid transfer out of Massachusetts, and ultimately out of the country, ran afoul of the judge’s directive and deprived his client of basic due-process protections.

Key unresolved questions now include:

• Whether the emergency stay was properly communicated to all responsible agencies and contractors handling custody and transport.

• How an order from 2015—originating when the student was a minor—interacts with later filings, administrative actions, or any case closures.

• What remedies are available when a noncitizen is removed despite an active federal court stay.

Who the student is and why the story resonates

The first-year business student had recently begun classes on scholarship and has lived in the United States since early childhood. Friends describe a driven freshman who balanced coursework with campus life and remained closely connected to her family in Texas. She is now staying with relatives in Honduras while remaining in contact with her legal team.

For many immigrant families with cases that span years and multiple filings, the episode underscores the complexity—and fragility—of status during travel. It also highlights how quickly routine trips can turn into high-stakes legal emergencies when long-dormant records are flagged.

Timeline of events (all times local)

Details may be refined as court filings and agency responses are made public.

What happens next

The student’s attorney says he will pursue all available avenues to return her to the U.S., including motions tied to the alleged violation of the emergency stay and potential requests for humanitarian parole. The path forward could involve:

• A federal court review of the stay’s scope and whether it was breached.

• Motions to reopen the underlying immigration case and challenge the 2015 order.

• Separate petitions seeking permission for the student to reenter while litigation proceeds.

Campus leaders and classmates are tracking developments as the spring semester approaches. For the family, immediate priorities are legal coordination, documentation, and ensuring the student’s safety and access to communications while abroad.

Why this case matters beyond one student

• Due-process integrity: Emergency stays are meant to freeze the status quo while judges weigh arguments. If removals proceed anyway, trust in the system erodes.

• Record accuracy and notice: Many long-pending cases involve minors who later become adults; ensuring clear notice and counsel access is critical when old orders surface.

• Operational handoffs: Modern removals can involve multiple agencies and contractors. Missteps in communication can have irreversible consequences.

This is a developing story. As new filings, agency statements, or court actions emerge, the picture of how a college freshman was deported to Honduras—despite a federal judge’s emergency order—will come into sharper focus. For now, the central facts are stark: a first-year Babson College student trying to fly home for Thanksgiving was detained in Boston and removed from the country within two days, and the fight over what should happen next has moved from the airport to the courtroom.