Hard to judge exactly what is going on, without seeing the file and asking quite a few more questions.
However, I’d recommend bringing it over as a PNG, using File > Import. I’d suggest using the “embed” rather than “link” import option. Make sure that you have the image selected, and make sure that it says (in the lower status bar — where it will display the “select an image” text) “image” for object type, rather than something else like “group.” If it says “group”, ungroup it before tracing.
