A young man from Mexico who was found squatting at Apple Valley High School a year ago is apparently on the lam after failing to board a plane in the Twin Cities to return to his homeland.

Francisco Javier Serrano, 22, whose story made news around the world, had been ordered by a judge to leave the United States because he was here illegally.

On Jan. 5, he hugged supporters goodbye at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and walked toward the security screeners. But he has not been heard from since -- in the United States or Mexico.

His attorney, Herbert Igbanugo, said Sunday that he knows what he'll ask when -- or if -- he sees Serrano again.

"What's the matter with you, boy?" Igbanugo said. He said he's left messages on Serrano's cell phone and sent e-mails.

Neither Igbanugo nor Serrano's family in Mexico has heard from him.

Serrano first made news Jan. 7, 2005, when a custodian discovered him sleeping in the Apple Valley High School auditorium.

He said he'd been camping there for three weeks because he wanted a warm place to stay.

Serrano had entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2002. The visa expired six months later and immigration officials said he was here illegally.

After he was found at the high school, he was arrested on trespassing charges, but local benefactors bailed him out of jail, gave him a place to live and fought to keep him in the country.

But an immigration judge last September ordered him to leave the country no later than Jan. 5.

Igbanugo said he started to wonder what was up when he didn't hear anything from Serrano for several days. He said he wondered whether Serrano had gotten mugged or if he was safe.

When Igbanugo contacted Serrano's mother in Mexico, he found that her son hadn't shown up. Igbanugo finally learned from immigration officials that his airline ticket was never used.

Serrano's main supporters were Minneapolis businessman Basim Sabri and his family, who gave him a place to stay and paid his expenses.

Sabri's wife, Rochelle Barrett, said Sunday that she had no regrets about helping him.

"I'm not upset about anything we've done up to this point," she said. "I'm curious to know where he is. I'm worried about him."

Barrett said that she wired $1,000 to Serrano in Mexico, but that the money was never claimed.

Igbanugo said Serrano seemed hesitant to return to Mexico. Barrett said Serrano told her that he felt that he belonged in the United States and wondered what the consequences would be if he didn't leave.