A Venezuelan's Mysterious Deportation Sparks Concerns Over U.S. Immigration Practices

The case of Ricardo Prada Vásquez, a Venezuelan detained mistakenly while attempting to enter the U.S., raises questions about the transparency and accountability of deportation processes after he seemingly disappears following removal to El Salvador.

In late January, Ricardo Prada Vásquez, a Venezuelan immigrant living in Detroit, made a fateful error while delivering an order from McDonald’s. He accidentally turned onto the Ambassador Bridge, inadvertently crossing into Canada. This innocent mistake led to his detention by U.S. authorities when he tried to re-enter the United States.

At the age of 32, Mr. Prada was taken into custody and subsequently ordered to be deported. On March 15, he contacted a friend in Chicago stating that he was among several detainees in Texas awaiting repatriation to Venezuela. However, the situation quickly turned dire when, later that evening, the Trump administration executed a plan to deport Venezuelan migrants in their custody.

Three planes flew from Texas to El Salvador, carrying individuals who are now reportedly imprisoned in a maximum-security facility, cut off from communication with the outside world. While there is a documented list of 238 deportees from that day, Ricardo Prada is not among them, leading to his current status as missing.

Friends and family members are deeply concerned, with one close friend, identified only as Javier, stating, “He has simply disappeared.” As authorities released images of other deported individuals, Prada remained unaccounted for, intensifying fears about what has become of him.

This unsettling case highlights ongoing issues concerning the U.S. immigration system, particularly regarding the rights of immigrants and the processes around deportation practices. With no information on his whereabouts, the community is left grappling with uncertainty, as the rights of many immigrants hang precariously in the balance.