The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is denying the claims of a British couple who乌鸦传媒檇 been vacationing in the Vancouver area and 乌鸦传媒渁ccidentally乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒� while in a vehicle with at least four other family members 乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渕ore than $16,000 CAD and a small quantity of marijuana, less than three grams.乌鸦传媒�

The law enforcement agency released surveillance footage 乌鸦传媒� which notes the arrest occurred in Lynden, Wash. 乌鸦传媒搕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.

乌鸦传媒淎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,乌鸦传媒� the statement continues.

乌鸦传媒淭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.乌鸦传媒�

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Eileen Connors compared their move to the Pennsylvania facility to 乌鸦传媒渁n abduction or a kidnapping.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淲e will be traumatized for the rest of our lives by what the United States government has done to us,乌鸦传媒� she said in her and her husband乌鸦传媒檚 statement.

An attorney for the People乌鸦传媒檚 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 乌鸦传媒渇rigid乌鸦传媒� cells and inadequate clothing and blankets for their child.

U.S.authorities have denied allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that the facility 乌鸦传媒減rovides a safe and humane environment for families as they go through the immigration process.乌鸦传媒�

- with files from the Associated Press

alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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