A seemingly simple wrong turn while on an Uber Eats delivery has allegedly landed a Venezuelan driver in El Salvador, deported after inadvertently crossing into Canada. Immigration rights experts are raising alarms, citing this as one of several cases suggesting individuals are being deported without due process.
The driver, 32-year-old Ricardo Prada Vasquez, was reportedly making a food delivery in Detroit this past January when he mistakenly drove onto the Ambassador Bridge, the one-way toll bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada. This accidental crossing led to his detention by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) authorities and subsequent deportation to El Salvador.
Things only get more complicated
Adding a layer of complexity, reports indicate that Vasquez had been granted permission to enter the U.S. via the CBP One app and was awaiting a scheduled immigration appointment. However, CBP officials reportedly stated that by leaving the country, even unintentionally, his pre-approved entry status became invalid.
The speed and lack of due process in Vasquez’s case are particularly troubling to advocates. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center’s senior managing attorney, Ruby Robinson, described a “black hole” of information for detainees, suggesting a system where individuals can be rapidly deported without proper legal recourse. “His experience shows the speed of the deportation machine, how individuals are being fast-tracked,” she stated.
Miriam Aukerman, a senior staff attorney for ACLU Michigan, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the fundamental importance of access to detained individuals in a democracy to prevent disappearances and deportations without judicial review.
Interestingly, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has presented a contrasting narrative, claiming Vasquez was a member of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua and had entered the U.S. in Texas in late November 2024. This claim adds a significant layer of complexity to the case.
This incident isn’t isolated
Just last month, an undocumented mother from Guatemala faced a similar ordeal, detained by CBP officers after also mistakenly driving onto the Ambassador Bridge. These instances highlight the potential for unintended border crossings to trigger severe immigration consequences.
“No matter who you are or where you’re from, you deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity. Our Constitution guarantees due process for everyone, regardless of immigration status,” emphasized Robinson.
U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, whose district includes the area, underscored that accidentally turning onto the Ambassador Bridge is a common error in a diverse community. She warned that this innocent mistake now carries the potential to “destroy their lives.
