# "A British family on vacation accidentally drove into the U.S..." **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824 "2019-10-15T21:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/21 "2019-10-16T13:18:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > There are a few more details to this story, at least according to the CBC, that I didn’t see mentioned here. > > One fact is that two of the adults in this group had previously been denied entry to the US, presumably for good reason. > > The other is that US immigration authorities first wanted to just send them back to Canada, but **they were denied entry back to Canada** by Canadian immigration. > > So, while it’s true that US immigration can be very heavy-handed at times, this bunch seems like a very suspicious lot, and it sounds like after they’re deported they will no longer be welcome in either Canada OR the US again. > [@Riemann](#): > > Dammit wolfpup, your inconvenient facts are harshing the mellow of our recreational outrage. “Recreational outrage”? Maybe cut back on the cynic pills, eh? The background is certainly helpful and relevant, but the whole thing was dealt with in a heavy-handed way. Not something for ICE to be proud of. Oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/22 "2019-10-16T13:32:23Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The background is certainly helpful and relevant, but the whole thing was dealt with in a heavy-handed way. Not something for ICE to be proud of. I was kidding, but seriously it’s a bit more significant than that. If accurate, these facts undermine the initial basis for being outraged at ICE in the first place. (a) This suggests that they actually _were_ deliberately trying to sneak into the U.S., and that the “avoiding an animal” story was fabricated. (b) ICE _did_ try to do the reasonable thing and just return them to Canada. It’s certainly reasonable to detain them under those circumstances. Conditions at ICE detention facilities and the length of the delay are another matter, but I don’t feel inclined to take this couple’s word for anything at this point. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/23 "2019-10-16T14:14:34Z")
Or that contraband was found in the car. Plenty of things to speculate about that may not be known. ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/24 "2019-10-16T15:15:06Z")
I haven’t been keeping up recently but I thought current immigration enforcement procedures required the parents who crossed the boarder illegally to be separated from their kid. Was there no room for a British baby in the juvenile concentration camps? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/25 "2019-10-16T15:25:38Z")
> [@BeagleJesus](#): > > I haven’t been keeping up recently but I thought current immigration enforcement procedures required the parents who crossed the boarder illegally to be separated from their kid. Was there no room for a British baby in the juvenile concentration camps? You’ve obviously not been keeping up, since the Executive Order ending that policy was signed over a year ago. [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/affording-congress-opportunity-address-family-separation/](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/affording-congress-opportunity-address-family-separation/) But, by all means, don’t let that stop you from getting a nice political jab in, and a chance to talk about “concentration camps”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/26 "2019-10-16T15:38:25Z")
They had $16,000 in cash. Assuming that is USD and not Canadian, I think it says a lot. Why would Canadian tourists from the UK be carrying $16,000 in US currency? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/27 "2019-10-16T15:45:48Z")
Eh, neither my sister or her husband can legally get into Canada (they both have drunk driving arrests) and we spent a week on Rainy Lake crossing back and forth over the border. And I don’t know anyone who is a regular Boundary Waters camper who hasn’t spent a night on the wrong side of the border when the wind kicks up and it isn’t safe to cross back to the U.S. side. (Up there park rangers tell you to keep to the U.S. side of the lakes for camping, but sometimes that isn’t safe - and everyone has been chill about "you are in a canoe, don’t put your life in danger trying to get to your own side). The first time I was in Canada I crossed in near Warroad on a stretch of “road” simply to say I’d been in Canada. There are kids who go to school in Warroad that have to go through Canada on their bus every day. Its in our best interests to keep that border “ajar” OK, its in the best interests of my friends who don’t want to have to canoe a mile across a lake against the wind in a storm. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/28 "2019-10-16T15:55:43Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Eh, neither my sister or her husband can legally get into Canada (they both have drunk driving arrests) … How does that work exactly? Have they tried every _tried_ to cross? Does Canada do a background check on every person crossing the boarder? That doesn’t seem plausible. Hell, I know someone who has a DUI, and was stopped at the Canadian border for almost an hour while they conducted a routine search of his large trailer. They had plenty of time to find out if that person had a DUI, but there was never an issue. He entered without incident. I always hear that people with DUIs can’t enter Canada, but I’ve known plenty who have. Has your sister or husband actually ever been turned away? Or do they just not try? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/29 "2019-10-16T16:54:55Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > How does that work exactly? Have they tried every _tried_ to cross? Does Canada do a background check on every person crossing the boarder? That doesn’t seem plausible. Hell, I know someone who has a DUI, and was stopped at the Canadian border for almost an hour while they conducted a routine search of his large trailer. They had plenty of time to find out if that person had a DUI, but there was never an issue. He entered without incident. I always hear that people with DUIs can’t enter Canada, but I’ve known plenty who have. > Has your sister or husband actually ever been turned away? Or do they just not try? Apparently [since 2016 Canada](http://www.canadaduientrylaw.com/how-does-canada-know.php) scans every US citizen’s passport and border agents have access to the FBI database. Prior to that , they didn’t scan every passport\*- and also the Canadian rules have changed in the past few years - so if the people you know crossed pre -2016, it was a different situation. - Although my guess is they always checked flight and cruise ship manifests. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/30 "2019-10-16T16:56:27Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > How does that work exactly? Have they tried every _tried_ to cross? Does Canada do a background check on every person crossing the boarder? That doesn’t seem plausible. Hell, I know someone who has a DUI, and was stopped at the Canadian border for almost an hour while they conducted a routine search of his large trailer. They had plenty of time to find out if that person had a DUI, but there was never an issue. He entered without incident. I always hear that people with DUIs can’t enter Canada, but I’ve known plenty who have. > Has your sister or husband actually ever been turned away? Or do they just not try? Apparently [since 2016 Canada](http://www.canadaduientrylaw.com/how-does-canada-know.php) scans every US citizen’s passport and border agents have access to the FBI database. Prior to that , they didn’t scan every passport\*- and also the Canadian rules have changed in the past few years - so if the people you know crossed pre -2016, it was a different situation. - Although my guess is they always did so for flight and cruise ship manifests. I know a number of people on my Alaskan cruise had to stay on board in Victoria. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/31 "2019-10-16T18:12:14Z")
I believe this was all part of King George III’s plan. Thank you border patrol for protecting the colonies. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/32 "2019-10-16T20:59:48Z")
Yeah, the story that officials are telling is really, really different. They say the family was driving sneakily through a ditch, carrying a large amount of US currency (which doesn’t make a lot of sense for British nationals planning to stay in Canada) and when they attempted to just send them back into into Canada, Canada didn’t want them. The initial article also looks kind of biased to me, notably the complaint that the officers didn’t read them their rights makes it sound like procedure wasn’t being followed, when in reality US officers actually only need to read Miranda rights if they plan to question someone, and typically only do so before questioning. > **[U.S. officials say British family illegally crossed border from Canada on...](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)** > > Records show that the family had been previously denied U.S. travel authorization. > [@](#): > > “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. > > The CBP official said it was not clear why Canada refused to let the family back into the country. > [@](#): > > CBP officials disputed the family’s version of events and said the Connors 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 through staffed border stations throughout the region. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/33 "2019-10-16T22:02:12Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I was kidding, but seriously it’s a bit more significant than that. If accurate, these facts undermine the initial basis for being outraged at ICE in the first place. > > (a) This suggests that they actually _were_ deliberately trying to sneak into the U.S., and that the “avoiding an animal” story was fabricated. > > (b) ICE _did_ try to do the reasonable thing and just return them to Canada. > > It’s certainly reasonable to detain them under those circumstances. Conditions at ICE detention facilities and the length of the delay are another matter, but I don’t feel inclined to take this couple’s word for anything at this point. As well, they were driving further into the states, instead of turning around and re entering Canada. To top it off, they were carrying 16 k in cash, which you normally have to declare at a normal crossing. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/34 "2019-10-16T22:44:32Z")
There’s nothing illegal about carrying a large amount of cash, but yes, you do have to declare it at $10,000. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/35 "2019-10-17T01:50:47Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > There’s nothing illegal about carrying a large amount of cash, but yes, you do have to declare it at $10,000. Sure, but if you’re doing something else that IS illegal, it’s perfectly reasonable to take it into consideration when considering the plausibility of your excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/36 "2019-10-17T08:03:00Z")
So will It be drug smuggling or gun smuggling? Or the occasional bizarre maple syrup smuggling? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/37 "2019-10-17T08:11:30Z")
Well apparently they’re on a plane winging it home right now, so no doubt we’ll learn more when they land. If there’s dirt, you can rely on our tabloid press to find it! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/38 "2019-10-17T09:27:11Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > So will It be drug smuggling or gun smuggling? > > Or the occasional bizarre maple syrup smuggling? Baby smuggling. They were hoping they could claim that the 3-month old had just been delivered while on U.S. soil. Instant Anchor Baby! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/39 "2019-10-17T12:33:31Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > How does that work exactly? Have they tried every _tried_ to cross? Does Canada do a background check on every person crossing the boarder? That doesn’t seem plausible. Hell, I know someone who has a DUI, and was stopped at the Canadian border for almost an hour while they conducted a routine search of his large trailer. They had plenty of time to find out if that person had a DUI, but there was never an issue. He entered without incident. I always hear that people with DUIs can’t enter Canada, but I’ve known plenty who have. > Has your sister or husband actually ever been turned away? Or do they just not try? A friend of mine was invited by a Canadian music association to come to Canada to recieve an award of some sort. After landing in Canada he was told that his old cannabis possession arrest meant he wasn’t allowed in Canada. He flew home and hasn’t had a kind word to say about Canada ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824/40 "2019-10-17T17:22:45Z")
Note: I am NOT inclined to believe the word of ICE or CBP, until we get confirmation from other organizations. We only have CBP’s word that they tried to send the Connors back into Canada. Until we hear back from Canadian Immigration, I take that with a grain of salt. We only have their word that the Connors’ had that money on them. Did they leave that money with the Connors? Ok, I can believe that if the Connors were trying to sneak into the U.S. with money, they might not want to make a stink about losing it, but I can also believe that ICE would fabricate things to make themselves look better. If you think it’s not about race, you probably haven’t seen pictures of these people. They may have English names, but they are definitely not WASP. I’d say there’s a decent probability that these people are Irish Travellers or Rom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-british-family-on-vacation-accidentally-drove-into-the-u-s/841824.md?page=3)