Patricia Bonilla, a Long Beach visual artist who routinely exhibits with the Downey Arts Coalition, has been deported to El Salvador despite being a permanent resident and having a green card.

According to the Los Angeles based art curator Dulche Stein, she has no money, no identification or paperwork. She is not a criminal or involved in gang activity. Among other issues, she suffers from epilepsy. And she had no prescriptions.

She is a well-respected visual artist who has touched many lives throughout the Los Angeles area, exhibiting at galleries, museums, and community arts organizations.

Bonilla came to this country as a small child with her mother from El Salvador. Her mother made sacrifices to provide her with an education and a future. Despite growing up with epilepsy and other health issues, Patricia thrived and with her passion and commitment she gained attention as an artist.

She went missing in March when she was the victim of a violent assault and robbery on the streets of Los Angeles. She was alone and vulnerable with no money or identification, including her legal US residency documents.

In June, a call came to her cousin, Bertha Bonilla, from the El Salvadoran Consulate. She had been found in Tijuana, gravely ill and struggling to manage her epilepsy. With no identification, the Mexican authorities deported her to El Salvador, where she has no family or means of survival.

Long Beach artist and curator, Sumako Sozdatel, confirms she is in El Salvador where she is receiving medical care. She is going to be able to work with the U.S. Consulate to get a passport. Sumako also reports that Congressman Robert Garcia is aware of her situation.

On June 10, the El Salvador hospital said they would release her to a care facility. One problem: she or any family members would have to pay those expenses.

A kind friend visited her and lent her a phone. Finally her cousin heard from her. It was a heartbreaking moment when the cousin told her that her mother, her only immediate family, passed away the week before.

Patricia broke down in tears. She was grieving, disoriented, and alone in a foreign place. Her health is fragile and she is in need of medical care and emotional support.

Bonilla, her cousin, has retained an immigration attorney. In addition, Bonilla created a Go Fund Me account to raise funds for Patricia’s medical care, legal support, and transportation back to the United States. You can find it here: https://gofund.me/98cc3a9f

Downey Arts Coalition artist deported to El Salvador