British family held ‘after accidentally crossing US border’
A British family, including two toddlers and a baby, are being held by US immigration officials after accidentally crossing the border while trying to avoid hitting an animal on the road.
David Connors, 30, his wife, Eileen, 24, and their threemonth-old son were detained on 3 October after driving across the Us-canada border south of Vancouver while on holiday.
Mr Connors’ brother, Michael Connors, his wife, Grace, and their two-year-old twin daughters are also said to have been detained.
The couple said they did not realise they had crossed the border when they swerved into a side road in order to avoid hitting an animal.
However, they were later pulled over by a police officer who informed them that they had entered the US state of Washington and then arrested them.
Through their lawyer, the Connors said they have been “traumatised” by the United States government and allege that they have been mistreated while in detention.
The couple said they were originally separated after their arrest when Mr Connors was taken to a detention centre in Tacoma, Washington, and Mrs Connors was placed in a hotel with her son.
The next day the family were flown to Pennsylvania, more than 2,500 miles away, and taken to the Berks Family Residential Centre (BFRC) in Leesport, where they have been held since 5 October. Bridget Cambria, of Aldea - the People’s Justice Centre, representing Mr and Mrs Connors, has filed a complaint with the US Department of Homeland Security on their behalf.
According to the complaint, the couple said the arresting officer did not read them their rights or give them the opportunity to return to Canada.
Since being held in BRFC, Mrs Connors has complained about the “frigid” temperature in the cells and said centre staff confiscated her son’s formula for three days.
According to the complaint, she said: “When I ask ‘How I am supposed to keep my baby warm in this horrible cold?’, all they tell me is to put a hat on him.
“My baby can’t wear a hat all the time, he feels uncomfortable with hats and mittens and starts to cry.”
Mrs Connors said her son now appears to have an eye infection and has blotchy skin.