Nabbed for one-hour breach

AN Australian man has been handcuffed and locked up in a US detention centre after apparently breaching his visa conditions by just one hour.

Sydney man Baxter Reid was in the US on a five-year visa and had recently travelled to Canada as part of a requirement for him to exit and reenter America every six months to keep his visa valid.

But his American girlfriend Heather Kansco said 26-yearold Mr Reid was arrested by US Border Patrol officers after delays receiving clearance to cross into Canada meant he breached his visa conditions by just over an hour. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in the US but could not release more details owing to privacy obligations.

Ms Kansco has raised more than $5000 in the past two days after setting up an online fundraising campaign to help cover legal bills for her boyfriend, who has served in the Australian army and is reportedly being held at the Buffalo Federal Detention Centre.