A British family, Connors, have related their ordeal in the United States after they were detained for days after mistakenly driving across border into the United States during vacation.

Originally from the United Kingdom, two couples and their three young children were driving near the US-Canada border on October 3 during a visit to Vancouver when an animal ventured into the road, forcing them to make an unexpected detour.

But before the Connors could get very far, flashing lights from a police car appeared in their rearview mirror. The officer that pulled them over was American — they had accidentally crossed the border.

The vacationing family says this was the moment their trip turned into “the scariest experience of our lives,” according to a complaint filed on Friday to the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. Instead of being allowed to return to Canada or the U.K., Eileen Connors alleges that her entire family, including her 3-month-old son, ended up detained at the Berks Family Residential Center in Leesport, Pa., where they have spent more than a week living in “frigid” and “filthy” conditions. As of late Monday, Bridget Cambria, the Connors’s lawyer, told The Washington Post that the British family was still at the centre waiting to be deported.

“We will never forget, we will be traumatized for the rest of our lives by what the United States government has done to us,” Connors wrote in a sworn statement, later adding, “We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights, and lied to. … It is undoubtedly the worst experience we have ever lived through.”

US Customs and Border Protection could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Officials with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed in a statement to the BBC that the family is being held at the Leesport facility, but disputed their claims of mistreatment. The center, the statement said, “provides a safe and humane environment for families as they go through the immigration process.”

“Reports of abuse or inhumane conditions at BFRC are unequivocally false,” officials said.

Connors, however, alleges that the mistreatment began shortly after her family was stopped by the American officer.

http://lanrenews.com/british-family-jailed-for-accidentally-driving-into-us/

I saw this on CNN. Immigration officials claimed they actually crossed the border on purpose. Even worse for the family, Canada doesn't want them back. Who would have thought even Brits will be trying to illegally enter the US, thought it was only blacks and Hispanics. Is the UK now a shithole country ni?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Tuesday that the British family was arrested for making what U.S. agents believe was a deliberate attempt to enter the United States illegally from Canada.

U.S. officials say British family illegally crossed border from Canada on purpose

U.S. authorities disputed the family’s version of events, saying they were spotted via video surveillance “slowly and deliberately driving through a ditch onto Boundary Road in Lynden, Washington” between parallel roadways on the U.S. and Canadian sides. The roads are not connected by cross streets, and the only legal way to traverse between the countries is at staffed border stations throughout the region.
In a statement, CBP said U.S. agents also determined that two of the family members had applied for travel authorization to visit the United States and were denied. A senior CBP official said the Connorses applied for visa waivers last year, and it was not immediately clear why they were rejected. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the case, said the family — four adults and three small children — were in possession of $16,000 in cash at the time of their arrest.

“Attempts were made to return the individuals to Canada, however, Canada refused to allow their return and two attempts to contact the United Kingdom consulate were unsuccessful,” the CBP statement read. Because Canada refused to admit the family, CBP was required by law to turn the family members over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A spokesperson with the U.K.'s Foreign & Commonwealth Office told The Post Tuesday that the agency is “providing assistance to a British family after they were taken into custody in the USA and are in close contact with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/us-officials-say-british-family-illegally-crossed-border-from-canada-on-purpose/2019/10/15/e184cc68-ef7f-11e9-b648-76bcf86eb67e_story.html

Yeah ! today is indeed a good day, making FTC for d past three yrs since I first made one. BTW this family are citizens of no country as all the countries are rejecting them. Why would they leave Canada for US for Heaven Sake.? Still thinking...

That's a country. Not Nigeria that foreigners enter anyhow.
Borders are closed and motors still enter nigeria from coutonou.
What an irony of a country

Lol

Wow

Lolzz

O set ee

So no be only us self.

We plenty

You accidentally drove how many kilometres before being accustomed? Nonsense and ingredient... Deport their sorry asses back to their shithole
America �� must be great again.

thats evident of a competent government not like 9ja my country where anybody can enter
wow I made it 2nd to comment good development

Canada no big reach for una? You carry moto dey near border, like say you wan smuggle rice.
Na una dey find trouble before.

I WISH AMERICA WAS CLOSE
I WOULDA DRIVEN ACCIDENTALLY THERE

They should be thankful for being alive.


If they 'accidentally' do that at some borders, they would also be 'accidentally' shot to death.

This sounds so funny.

Where they sleeping before they accidentally entered another country?

Make i accidentally enter Ghana and see who go arrest me

Nobody should comment on this news. How e take put food on my table in Naija wey one kongo of rice is now 900naira

I thought it was the other way around. I mean people crossing into Canada from the US instead of vice-versa.

Those you planning to relocate to Britain should better stay cos Britain is now a shit hole. Nigeria is now better than Britain.

Buhari effect continues

UK Don dey cast small small because of Buhari presence in the country

Canada is the ish right now

rofanx13:
A

bia this space you are occupying is my space haba

Omoslim26:
thats evident of a competent government not like 9ja my country where anybody can enter
wow I made it 2nd to comment good development

Thats my position boy

This is the second time I'm hearing this. The other time it was a British lady jogging that was arrested. Wetin they do this US border patrol sef?

Affordable children educational android tablets. Please go through my thread for pictures, functions and specifications and please check my signature for contact

God bless the Queen even the queen cannot save them England the most hypocrite country in the world, you will always see US in the news but England lowkey. Cos just like 007 If you get caught you on your own

How are the mighty British empire as fallen

tolakush92:
I WISH AMERICA WAS CLOSE
I WOULDA DRIVEN ACCIDENTALLY THERE

After voting Buhari... You will start wishing

SMH

dominique:
I saw this on CNN. Immigration officials claimed they actually crossed the border on purpose. Even worse for the family, Canada doesn't want them back. Who would have thought even Brits will be trying to illegally enter the US, thought it was only blacks and Hispanics. Is the UK now a shithole country ni?



https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/us-officials-say-british-family-illegally-crossed-border-from-canada-on-purpose/2019/10/15/e184cc68-ef7f-11e9-b648-76bcf86eb67e_story.html

Even if that were true, 1 week in detention isn't really fair

There case na small matter..they have them detained in a very big apartment.. compared to our home front matter..

Vincad:
This is the second time I'm hearing this. The other time it was a British lady jogging that was arrested. Wetin they do this US border patrol sef?

dont trust British bro

Trivalence:
A British family, Connors, have related their ordeal in the United States after they were detained for days after mistakenly driving across border into the United States during vacation.

Originally from the United Kingdom, two couples and their three young children were driving near the US-Canada border on October 3 during a visit to Vancouver when an animal ventured into the road, forcing them to make an unexpected detour.

But before the Connors could get very far, flashing lights from a police car appeared in their rearview mirror. The officer that pulled them over was American — they had accidentally crossed the border.

The vacationing family says this was the moment their trip turned into “the scariest experience of our lives,” according to a complaint filed on Friday to the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. Instead of being allowed to return to Canada or the U.K., Eileen Connors alleges that her entire family, including her 3-month-old son, ended up detained at the Berks Family Residential Center in Leesport, Pa., where they have spent more than a week living in “frigid” and “filthy” conditions. As of late Monday, Bridget Cambria, the Connors’s lawyer, told The Washington Post that the British family was still at the centre waiting to be deported.

“We will never forget, we will be traumatized for the rest of our lives by what the United States government has done to us,” Connors wrote in a sworn statement, later adding, “We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights, and lied to. … It is undoubtedly the worst experience we have ever lived through.”

US Customs and Border Protection could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Officials with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed in a statement to the BBC that the family is being held at the Leesport facility, but disputed their claims of mistreatment. The center, the statement said, “provides a safe and humane environment for families as they go through the immigration process.”

“Reports of abuse or inhumane conditions at BFRC are unequivocally false,” officials said.

Connors, however, alleges that the mistreatment began shortly after her family was stopped by the American officer.

http://lanrenews.com/british-family-jailed-for-accidentally-driving-into-us/

British citizen going through this experience with USA immigration and Canadian immigration.

It is hard to believe this story.

But that is the reality.