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British holidaymakers 'traumatised' after arrest at US border | British holidaymakers 'traumatised' after arrest at US border |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British couple say they have been detained in the US after accidentally crossing the border from Canada. | A British couple say they have been detained in the US after accidentally crossing the border from Canada. |
David and Elaine Connors say they are being held in Pennsylvania with their three-month-old baby - which has left them "traumatised". | David and Elaine Connors say they are being held in Pennsylvania with their three-month-old baby - which has left them "traumatised". |
They say were driving with relatives on 3 October when, to avoid an animal, they veered onto a small road. | |
A police officer then pulled them over, told them they were in the US state of Washington and arrested them. | A police officer then pulled them over, told them they were in the US state of Washington and arrested them. |
The couple have detailed the "scariest experience of our entire lives" in a sworn statement that was provided to BBC News by their lawyer. | The couple have detailed the "scariest experience of our entire lives" in a sworn statement that was provided to BBC News by their lawyer. |
The family statement is the basis for a legal complaint lodged by their lawyer with the US Department of Homeland Security inspector general. | The family statement is the basis for a legal complaint lodged by their lawyer with the US Department of Homeland Security inspector general. |
US immigration authorities confirmed to the BBC that the couple were being held, but denied their allegations of mistreatment. | US immigration authorities confirmed to the BBC that the couple were being held, but denied their allegations of mistreatment. |
Where were they taken? | Where were they taken? |
The family's attorney, Bridget Cambria, of Aldea - the People's Justice Center, said the couple were driving in the Vancouver area on 3 October when they took a detour to avoid an animal on the road. | The family's attorney, Bridget Cambria, of Aldea - the People's Justice Center, said the couple were driving in the Vancouver area on 3 October when they took a detour to avoid an animal on the road. |
The family say they did not realise they had strayed over the US border. | The family say they did not realise they had strayed over the US border. |
They were pulled over by a police officer who did not read them their rights, nor allow them to "simply turn around" and go back to Canada, according to the complaint. | They were pulled over by a police officer who did not read them their rights, nor allow them to "simply turn around" and go back to Canada, according to the complaint. |
At first the young family say they were separated - first with Mr Connors, 30, in a male-only cell, and his 24-year-old wife and infant son in a women's cell. | At first the young family say they were separated - first with Mr Connors, 30, in a male-only cell, and his 24-year-old wife and infant son in a women's cell. |
Later, Mr Connors was taken to a detention centre in Tacoma, Washington, while Mrs Connors and their son were taken to a budget hotel near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to the complaint. | Later, Mr Connors was taken to a detention centre in Tacoma, Washington, while Mrs Connors and their son were taken to a budget hotel near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to the complaint. |
The following morning they say they were driven to the airport, which raised their hopes that they were being flown back to Canada or the UK. | The following morning they say they were driven to the airport, which raised their hopes that they were being flown back to Canada or the UK. |
"But that was not the case," Mrs Connors says in the sworn statement. Instead, they were flown to Pennsylvania - on the other side of the country. | "But that was not the case," Mrs Connors says in the sworn statement. Instead, they were flown to Pennsylvania - on the other side of the country. |
They were taken on 5 October to Berks Family Residential Center (BFRC), one of three immigration detention centres in the US that can accommodate families. | They were taken on 5 October to Berks Family Residential Center (BFRC), one of three immigration detention centres in the US that can accommodate families. |
Mrs Connors says: "We will be traumatised for the rest of our lives by what the United States government has done to us." | Mrs Connors says: "We will be traumatised for the rest of our lives by what the United States government has done to us." |
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the Connorses were in detention at the BFRC facility in Leesport, Pennsylvania. | US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the Connorses were in detention at the BFRC facility in Leesport, Pennsylvania. |
A spokesman for the agency told the BBC that BFRC "provides a safe and humane environment for families as they go through the immigration process". | A spokesman for the agency told the BBC that BFRC "provides a safe and humane environment for families as they go through the immigration process". |
"Reports of abuse or inhumane conditions at BFRC are unequivocally false," he added. | "Reports of abuse or inhumane conditions at BFRC are unequivocally false," he added. |
'The worst experience' | 'The worst experience' |
The Connorses' sworn statement says the cells are "frigid", and staff have refused to turn the heating on until the end of next month. | The Connorses' sworn statement says the cells are "frigid", and staff have refused to turn the heating on until the end of next month. |
"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," Mrs Connors said in the statement. | "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," Mrs Connors said in the statement. |
"My baby can't wear a hat all the time, he feels uncomfortable with hats and mittens and starts to cry." | "My baby can't wear a hat all the time, he feels uncomfortable with hats and mittens and starts to cry." |
Staff, she added, confiscated her son's formula for three days, as well as his teething powder, and would only provide "disgusting" blankets that smell "like a dead dog". | Staff, she added, confiscated her son's formula for three days, as well as his teething powder, and would only provide "disgusting" blankets that smell "like a dead dog". |
They say the baby's skin is now rough and blotchy and he appears to have an eye infection. | They say the baby's skin is now rough and blotchy and he appears to have an eye infection. |
"We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights, and lied to," she said. "It is not right. | "We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights, and lied to," she said. "It is not right. |
"We have been treated unfairly from day one. It is undoubtedly the worst experience we have ever lived through. | "We have been treated unfairly from day one. It is undoubtedly the worst experience we have ever lived through. |
"We have been traumatised and it has even damaged our relationship. No one should have to suffer this kind of treatment." | "We have been traumatised and it has even damaged our relationship. No one should have to suffer this kind of treatment." |