In brief
Ricardo Prada Vásquez, who accidentally crossed into Canada, was detained upon his return to the U.S. despite being a lawful resident. His family and friends have lost contact with him after deportation to El Salvador, where he is unaccounted for in a facility that lacks transparency.
In late January, Ricardo Prada Vásquez, a Venezuelan immigrant employed in Detroit, made an infamous error when he accidentally entered the Ambassador Bridge leading to Canada. This innocent mistake resulted in his detention and a subsequent deportation order issued by U.S. Immigration. He was among several detainees believed to be held at a Texas facility awaiting repatriation to Venezuela.On March 15, Mr. Prada alerted a Chicago friend about his situation before three planes flew Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. Once there, however, Mr. Prada seems to have vanished without a trace, having no presence among the 238 deported individuals documented by authorities.Javier, a close friend of Mr. Prada, expressed deep concern, stating, “He has simply disappeared.” Desperation surrounds the circumstances of his disappearance, with his family and friends unsure of his fate or location. The lack of information available from U.S. Immigration concerning the conditions at the detention facility in El Salvador only amplifies their worries.
