Category: CNN Regional

By Emily Maher, Jennifer Eagan, Tim Nazzaro

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — A Babson College student wanted to surprise her parents on Thanksgiving by flying out to Texas to meet them.

Instead, she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Any Lucia Lopez Belloca, 19, was at Logan Airport on Nov. 20 when she was informed for the first time that she had a removal order from immigration authorities, according to her lawyer, Todd Pomerlau.

At 4 p.m., she called her family and told them she was being held at the ICE field office in Burlington.

As of Wednesday, she is currently in Honduras.

“When she got to the airport to board her flight, she was asked to step aside by federal agencies because they alleged that she had a final order of removal,” said Nayna Gupta, a member of the American Immigration Council. “These are folks who may have received removal notices when they were children and were never told.”

In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said:

“On Nov. 20, 2025, Officers with ICE and CBP Boston arrested Any Lucia Lopez Belloca, an illegal alien from Honduras, at Logan International Airport Boston when attempting to board a flight.

Lopez Belloca unlawfully entered the United States from Mexico. A Justice Department immigration judge ordered Lopez Belloca removed from the United States on June 2, 2015. Lopez Belloca was removed from the United States to Honduras on Nov. 22, 2025.

Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is committed to prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from American communities.”

Babson College sent a letter to its student body Monday, confirming one of its students was detained by federal immigration authorities while traveling home for Thanksgiving.

“We understand that this news may feel unsettling, particularly for our students, faculty, and staff who may already be navigating uncertainty,” the letter read. “Our ability to share specifics is limited by law, but please know that our focus remains on supporting the student and their family, as well as the wellbeing of our community.”

The college says it is following established protocols for situations involving federal authorities.

It is also providing resources for students, faculty and staff impacted by the incident.

According to a habeas corpus lawsuit, Belloca entered the United States through Mexico in 2014 with her family and without inspection. She was 8 years old at the time.

Belloca was arrested by ICE officers later that year but released on personal recognizance.

At some point after her entry, Belloca’s lawyer says she applied for asylum.

In 2017, allegedly without Belloca’s knowledge, she was ordered to be removed from the country. She was 11 years old at the time and continued living in the United States without incident.

The lawsuit claims Belloca’s Fifth Amendment right to due process was violated during her detainment.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Allison Petro

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    MARION COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Multiple Marion County Fire Rescue employees were arrested and behind bars Wednesday following an alleged “violent hazing” incident involving a new co-worker, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said the incident occurred at Fire Station 21 located in Ocala on Nov. 16 and involved a 19-year-old co-worker who’s only been with the department for five months.

According to documents obtained by WESH 2, the victim said he was already being harassed that day when co-workers rubbed grease on him and later threw out his belongings after one co-worker started a false rumor about him disposing of leftover pizza.

Later in the day, court documents state the victim told his co-workers that his large follower count on Instagram was tied to a since-deleted Tik Tok video showing his dancing.

The co-workers tried to find the video but couldn’t.

The victim told prosecutors, as the day continued, one of the defendants would throw his work boots in the parking lot.

He said when he went to retrieve them, he was grabbed from behind and held by two other defendants while a third pulled down his pants and underwear and hit him with a belt, attempting to get him to tell them his phone password.

The victim was then dragged across the parking lot, where the firefighters reportedly used a water bottle and towel to waterboard him three times.

Deputies said 22-year-old Edward Kenny III, 22-year-old Seth Day and 19-year-old Tate Trauthwein were arrested for kidnapping, robbery and battery.

Kaylee Bradley, 25, was arrested for robbery and principal/accessory to robbery.

“During this whole incident, the victim fought and refused to cooperate and made it abundantly clear to each of them that this was outside of what he thought maybe could be perceived as something minor,” said Sheriff Billy Woods.

The firefighters were terminated, according to James Banta, the chief of Marion County Fire Rescue.

“Their behavior does not reflect who we are and what we stand for,” Banta said.

“What occurred was unacceptable, inexcusable, and fundamentally contrary to the core values of our fire department.”

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By Britt Leoni

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    NAPLES, Florida (WBBH) — On Friday mornings at Vi at Bentley Village, a group of ladies gathers, needles in hand.

“I’m not a great sewer, but I do enjoy doing things with my hands,” said Pat Smart. “I said, oh, let me see what this is all about.”

Women like Smart don’t sew often, but when they do, they’re sewing stuffed bears.

“It’s so satisfying when you can make them because, as you can see, they’re so cute,” said Smart.

The bears didn’t happen on the first stitch, but in time, thanks to the head of this group, who has been sewing her own bears for the past eight years.

“I thought, oh, let me make some bears for these kids,” said Kathy Swift.

Swift has donated the 2000 bears she’s sewn to kids at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

While she’s a pro on her own, six weeks ago, she started her sewing group after realizing she didn’t have to do it alone.

“There’s probably enough material to make a good 500 more bears … so keep going, ladies!” said Swift.

Now that Swift’s husband has died, not only is this a way to do good, it’s a way to make friends.

“At this age, we’re not busy anymore. We’re all home more than we ever were before, so at least we’re doing something positive,” Swift said.

“I’ve been here for 8 years and probably met…all of these ladies were people I didn’t know, so it brings people together,” Smart said.

While not everyone in this group is a natural seamstress, they don’t have to be. What really matters is the heart behind each thread.

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By James Stratton

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    KENOSHA, Wis. (WISN) — Chintan Thakkar, 44, voluntarily walked into the Kenosha County intake court Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors previously charged him with felony theft and money laundering of more than $100,000.

Thakkar and Jagdishkumar Nandani are accused of scamming a Kenosha woman out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold bars.

“They’re ruining the lives of all seniors, it’s senior exploitation, it’s abuse,” said the victim in the case, who agreed to do an interview with 12 News, but didn’t want her name shared.

A man who called her eventually convinced her that her bank accounts had been hacked and were being used for crime. She told WISN 12 News someone on the phone convinced her he was a federal agent and it was safer to transfer her life savings to gold.

The woman gave away $332,750 in gold on March 1 and $139,500 on March 15 at her home on Kenosha’s north side. Prosecutors say Nandani was the courier in the scheme, picking up gold from the victim. In total, she tells 12 News she lost more than $653,000 and sold her house because she thought it was part of the scheme.

Prosecutors say Thakkar and Nandani were getting orders from a WhatsApp text group from overseas.

“The group was used to communicate instructions for pickups and provided photographs of money, gold, and victim information,” Kenosha District Attorney Xavier Solis said.

Thakkar’s attorney moved to dismiss the case in court Wednesday.

“There’s nothing that alleges or provides probable cause to believe my client was involved in any way with the case that is charged here in Kenosha County,” attorney Carl Johnson said.

Court Commissioner William Michel denied the motion and ordered Thakkar to be taken into custody and held on a $25,000 bond. Bailiffs arrested him in court after the hearing was finished. His attorney told the court he had enough cash to post bail.

Thakkar’s attorney had no comment for 12 News. A warrant is still out for the arrest of Nandani, according to Wisconsin court records.

12 News has been investigating gold bar schemes for more than a year. Government officials warn that they will never request that you buy gold or other precious metals. If you believe you have been scammed, the FBI wants you to report it here.

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By Chip Scarborough

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    BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KHBS, KHOG) — A Northwest Arkansas man is back home after he says he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a traffic stop. The man’s attorney says he is a U.S. citizen.

Local immigration attorney Aaron Cash says his client had prior traffic offenses that had not been taken care of. The client says when he got pulled over because his taillights were out, those prior traffic offenses became an even bigger problem. He agreed to speak to 40/29 News under the condition that we not show his face or use his name.

“Kind of traumatized a little bit, you know,” the man said.

The Northwest Arkansas resident says he had just driven a colleague home when he was stopped by an area police officer due to his taillights not working. He says the officer discovered he had prior traffic offenses that hadn’t been taken care of, so he says he was taken to the Benton County Jail to be booked, and he expected to be immediately released. However, he says Benton County discovered an ICE hold on him, and he ended up staying in the county jail overnight. He says it was tough not knowing what to expect next.

“Try to stay calm,” the man said. “Be kind to the people that are doing this to you. You know, show them that you can do it. Stay strong.”

He says it wasn’t until the next morning that ICE picked him up from the Benton County Jail and took him to an ICE office in Fayetteville. He says he was only there about 30 minutes before he was released.

“Now that I know this can happen to me, I’m kind of leery,” he said. “You know, I want to carry more documentation with me. So, that way they don’t have an excuse to say that I don’t have proof.”

Cash says he was contacted to represent the man. He says once immigration authorities reviewed his client’s passport, proving his citizenship, he was released. Cash says it was acknowledged by law enforcement that his client is a U.S. citizen

“You know, in 2025, I’m not sure exactly how that could happen,” Cash said. “You know, before the internet, before computer systems, I could see how that may not reflect somewhere. But, you know, you would think that would be in one central location. But, apparently, it’s sort of separated out. The Department of State does issue passports, and of course, ICE is not under that. And, so maybe there is some disconnect there. But, he is a U.S. citizen.”

Cash’s client says he wishes he didn’t have to think about the possibility of carrying his passport and documentation with him at all times.

“It makes me feel like I’m not a regular human being,” he said. “That I have to, you know, basically have a dog collar on me to present myself as a human being.”

We have calls into the law enforcement agencies involved in this particular case to find out more about the ICE hold and why it was in place. We are still waiting on calls back from some of those agencies, but we can tell you an ICE spokesperson told us they will look into it.

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By Meghan Mosley

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    Oklahoma (KOCO) — A four-year-old boy from Oklahoma, Axel Noland, is hearing the world for the first time after receiving cochlear implants, a life-changing gift for him and his family.

Axel’s father, Dillon Noland, shared that the journey has been challenging from the start.

“It started out crazy from the very beginning,” he said.

Since birth, Axel has faced numerous complications.

“We didn’t know what his prognosis was gonna be when he was born. We didn’t know if he was gonna breathe or what was gonna happen. And it turned out he was okay. Spent a week in the NICU here, and all things were good,” Dillon said.

Axel was born with congenital CMV, a condition explained by Dr. Vick Ramjee, a pediatric otolaryngologist.

“It’s a type of infection that children can get passed down maternally, or from congenital reasons, and it’s a cytomegalovirus, the most common leading cause of genetic hearing loss in children in the United States,” Ramjee said.

Dillon spoke about the emotional challenges of raising a child with hearing loss.

“It is difficult, yeah. And I know for me personally, you grieve the child that you don’t have, but you have the child in front of you still. So, it’s hard to do that. It’s hard. Not that it’s hard not to appreciate my son, but it’s hard to know I can’t take him fishing, I can’t go hiking with him, there’s a lot of things I don’t get to do,” he said.

The family initially tried hearing aids, but they were not effective over time.

They then opted for cochlear implants.

Dr. Ramjee noted the benefits of this decision.

“What we know is that cochlear implants at his age can have a profound benefit from long-term speech and articulation,” he said.

In a video from Oklahoma Children’s OU Health, Axel’s cochlear implants were activated, allowing him to hear his parents and the world around him better than ever before.

“We’re gonna turn them on slowly and increase the volume,” the video showed, followed by Axel’s parents saying, “Hi baby! I love you. Haha, hi baby.”

Reflecting on the moment, Dillon said, “That moment itself was looking back now, was monumental, because I didn’t know how much these cochlear implants would help with him in his overall development. Not just in his hearing, but his looking, because he’s combining two senses together.”

Despite the tough journey, Dillon expressed gratitude for the medical team that helped open up Axel’s world.

“It can be difficult, but it can be so rewarding to watch him grow,” he said.

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By McKenzy Parsons

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    LINCOLN, Neb. (KETV) — A Nebraska State trooper was given the NSP Life Saver Award.

The Nebraska State Patrol and Gov. Jim Pillen presented trooper Braden Heidbrink with the award after his quick actions saved a 4-year-old’s life.

In May, first responders were called to a residence in Hallam, Nebraska, for a 4-year-old named Percy who was severely injured in a lawnmower accident.

Heidbrink was the first to arrive at the scene, where he found the father trying to care for the hurt child, who had injuries to both legs.

The trooper applied a tourniquet to Percy’s right leg and bandaged the left leg before paramedics arrived and took the child to the hospital.

His right leg was amputated, but Heidbrink was credited with saving Percy’s life.

Percy and his family helped present the award to Heidbrink. He even got to show everyone his “robot” prosthetic leg.

“Most of you that enter this profession are very humble. You don’t do this job for moments like this,” said Col. Bryan Waugh. “We sign up to do this job because we genuinely have a passion to serve, to protect, to be there at the most horrible, horrific moment in somebody’s life, that we can hopefully make a difference in that moment.”

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