By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A US federal judge has given the Trump administration three weeks to rectify the deportation of a Honduran college student. The student, Any Lucia López Belloza, was deported to Honduras despite a court order meant to prevent her removal while she was traveling to see her family for Thanksgiving. The judge stated the simplest solution would be for the State Department to issue her a visa. The judge also recognized the government’s violation of a court order and the ability to remedy the “tragic” mistake.
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US judge gives Trump administration three weeks to return deported student. It’s hard not to feel a sense of frustration reading about a judge’s order that the Trump administration had three weeks to deal with a deported student. Honestly, the immediate reaction is, why so long? Three weeks feels like an eternity when we’re talking about someone’s life, someone’s future that has been so drastically altered. It seems like the clock is ticking a bit too slowly for comfort in this scenario.
That three-week timeline, in reality, is not a simple command to return the student immediately. Instead, it’s a deadline for the administration to outline their plans. Will they issue a visa? Will they return the student for due process? The devil is in the details, as they say. And of course, the Justice Department’s silence and the lawyer’s delayed response aren’t exactly confidence-inspiring. It feels like we’ve seen this movie before, where rulings are treated as suggestions rather than directives.
It’s natural to feel concerned when laws aren’t enforced with the same urgency across the board. The feeling that different standards apply to different groups of people can be unsettling. When we see actions that might be considered as kidnapping in other contexts, met with leisurely timeframes and seemingly little consequence, it’s understandable to be frustrated. The contrast between this three-week window and, say, how quickly other offenders are brought to justice is pretty stark.
The fear that the administration might simply ignore the judge’s order, and that there are no repercussions, is a valid one. It’s a sentiment of powerlessness when rules seem optional, especially when the stakes are so high for the student involved. The worry that this student’s situation is another step down a dangerous path is definitely present, a step toward an environment where those in power can act without facing any consequences.
The process often seems designed to drag on endlessly, providing cover for any undesirable actions to take place and delay any form of justice. The idea of the administration using the excuse of a change in jurisdiction to evade consequences is a tactic seen before and it highlights the need for a swift response. This constant battle for due process, combined with a seemingly endless number of delays and attempts to avoid accountability, fuels the feeling that nothing will change, despite any legal rulings.
There is a sense that the three-week deadline is merely the beginning of a prolonged legal dance. The idea of endless extensions, explanations, and more delays isn’t too far-fetched, based on past behavior. The potential for the administration to drag its feet is real, and the worry is that the student will remain in limbo, their future hanging in the balance while the legal system crawls along.
The fact that the administration is given such a lengthy period of time to act raises the question of intent. Why would someone want to deport this student in the first place? It’s a question that is hard to shake, and one that highlights the urgency and importance of this case. The implications of this are significant and disturbing to many as the sense of unease increases. The lack of consequences for what some might view as egregious behavior is a frightening prospect.
Ultimately, the three-week window underscores the significant degree of time and effort needed to obtain justice. This highlights the uphill climb people must often face to challenge those in power. It serves as a reminder that the pursuit of justice is not always quick and easy, and that it requires a constant fight against forces that appear intent on hindering it.