Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Holiday family held ‘for driving over US border by accident’
A FAMILY is being detained in the US after accidentally crossing the border with Canada while on holiday.
David Connors, 30, his wife, Eileen, 24, and their son, three months, were arrested after driving across the Us-canada border south of Vancouver. The couple allege they are being mistreated while in detention.
They say they swerved into a side road to avoid hitting an animal and did not realise they had crossed into the US state of Washington, where they were pulled over and arrested.
The couple claim the police officer did not read them their rights or let them return to Canada. Mr Connors was taken to a detention centre and his wife and son were put in a hotel.
The next day, they were all flown to Berks Family Residential Center in Pennsylvania, where they have been held since October 5 awaiting deportation. Mr Connors’ brother Michael, his wife Grace, and twin daughters, age two, are also said to be held.
The Connors’ lawyer filed a complaint with the US Department of Homeland Security, saying they have been “traumatised” by the events.
In it, Mrs Connors claims her cell is “frigid”. She said: “When I ask, ‘How I am supposed to keep my baby warm in this cold?’, they tell me to put a hat on him.” She also said staff confiscated her son’s formula for three days, and he seems to have eye and skin problems. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said: “Reports of abuse or inhumane conditions are false.”
The Foreign Office has confirmed the detention and said it is working with the US authorities.