Last Detour Before Deportation
A split-second navigation decision leads to an irreversible outcome.
Jorge had learned to give himself time—Detroit traffic could chew through a delivery window fast.
It was his third trip that evening. He double-checked the map, set his playlist to something upbeat, and drove. Jorge had delivered countless meals. The delivery was supposed to be an easy one—three burrito bowls to an address about half hour away.
His GPS rerouted after flagging construction ahead. He didn’t notice anything wrong until he was on the Ambassador bridge and the sign said: “Welcome to Canada.” His phone buzzed with a border roaming alert. A moment of panic set in as he tried to turn around—except he couldn’t. He swore under his breath.
By the time he was returned to U.S. soil, border agents were waiting at the checkpoint. His temporary status had expired last week. His DACA renewal was still pending. That was all they needed.
Jorge’s record was clean. No charges, no missed check-ins. But none of that mattered. A mistake became a verdict. Jorge spent three nights in a detention facility.
Days later, he was on a plane to El Salvador—a country he hadn’t seen since he was six.
In Detroit, his car sat in a tow yard, the burrito bowl never making it to the customer. His phone kept pinging: “Where’s my order?”
A final ping. The delivery rating dropped to one star.
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