Brits arrested after ‘swerving into US trying to miss animal’ had entry denied

Two members of a British family locked up in an immigration detention centre in America after accidentally crossing over from Canada had previously been denied entry to the US, it has been revealed.

David Connors, 30, his wife Eileen, 24, have been in custody since October 2 after they were accused of trying to enter the US from Canada illegally.

They were arrested with their three-month-old son along with relatives Michael Connors, his wife Grace and their two-year-old twin daughters.

A spokesman from Aldea The People’s Justice Center, which has been representing the Connors, said that as of Wednesday, the family were no longer held in the Berks Family Residential Centre in Pennsylvania and were being “removed to the UK”.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed all seven family members have been moved to Enforcement and Removal Operations in Seattle “to be processed as expedited removals” but did not clarify their status further.

The Connors family claimed they did not realise they crossed the border south of Vancouver when they swerved into a side road to avoid hitting an animal while on holiday.

But American authorities disputed the family’s account, calling their actions “illegal” and “deliberate”.

In a previously released statement, Eileen Connors said they tried to explain their “mistake” but were not allowed to return to Canada.

“We were detained anyway and treated in a way no human deserves to be treated,” said Mrs Connors.

“We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights and lied to.”

Mrs Connors also complained of poor conditions in the detention centre including cold and inadequate facilities to feed her baby but said conditions improved after they were able to contact the British embassy.

But in a statement to the PA news agency on Wednesday, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said its evidence contradicted that of the Connors family.

A spokesperson said: “A vehicle was observed via remote video surveillance system turning west onto Avenue 0 in British Columbia, Canada, at approximately 9pm, October 2.

“The vehicle then turned south and entered the US illegally, by slowly and deliberately driving through a ditch onto Boundary Road in Blaine, Washington.

“The vehicle travelled west on Boundary Road continuing on the United States side, and was pulled over by a Border Patrol agent a short time later.”

The statement said the family members were arrested minutes later on suspicion of illegally entering the United States without inspection.

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 said.

The CBP added two adult family members were previously denied travel authorisation to come to the United States.