The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is denying the claims of a British couple whoB次元官网网址檇 been vacationing in the Vancouver area and B次元官网网址渁ccidentallyB次元官网网址� crossed the border.
David Connors, 30, Eileen Connors, 24, and their three-month-old son say they inadvertently crossed the border at B.C. and Washington State B次元官网网址� while in a vehicle with at least four other family members B次元官网网址� after detouring to avoid an animal in the road.
They said they were stopped by an officer, who told them they were in Washington State but did not read them their rights or allow them to turn around and return to Canada.
Instead, they said they were arrested and moved to a detention centre in Pennsylvania. The other family members, including a brother, his wife and their two-year-old twin girls are also being detained in the U.S. as suspected illegal immigrants.
However, a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol statement this week said the Oct. 2 crossing was deliberate, and that record checks show that two of the adults in the vehicle had previously been denied authorization to come to the U.S.
Officials said the travellers also had B次元官网网址渕ore than $16,000 CAD and a small quantity of marijuana, less than three grams.B次元官网网址�
The law enforcement agency released surveillance footage B次元官网网址� which notes the arrest occurred in Lynden, Wash. B次元官网网址搕hat appears to show a vehicle slowly driving through what officials call a ditch and breaching the international boundary.
What appears to be a small animal can be seen crossing the road a short distance in front of the vehicle.
B次元官网网址淎ttempts were made to return the individuals to Canada. However, Canada refused to allow their return and two attempts to contact the consulate for the United Kingdom were unsuccessful,B次元官网网址� the statement continues.
B次元官网网址淭he seven individuals, consisting of four adults and three children, were processed by Border Patrol and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations.B次元官网网址�
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Eileen Connors compared their move to the Pennsylvania facility to B次元官网网址渁n abduction or a kidnapping.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e will be traumatized for the rest of our lives by what the United States government has done to us,B次元官网网址� she said in her and her husbandB次元官网网址檚 statement.
An attorney for the PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Justice Centre, representing the family, has filed a complaint with the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging mistreatment during their detention, including B次元官网网址渇rigidB次元官网网址� cells and inadequate clothing and blankets for their child.
U.S.authorities have denied allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that the facility B次元官网网址減rovides a safe and humane environment for families as they go through the immigration process.B次元官网网址�
- with files from the Associated Press
alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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