Re:Jogger accidentally crosses U.S. border from B.C., gets d...
by gojomo on Saturday June 23, 2018 @03:12AM
(#17379966)
The passport was available as soon as the relative reached the detention center – strongly implied to be the same day as the arrest. That's when I'd consider the 'reasonableness' clock to have started.
The Google Map attached to the story, with photos and annotated positions of the beach and nearest border sign, are highly suggestive her explanation was credible, and should have been self-evidently so to agents on the ground.
As w citizen of a country with visa-free travel to the US, the only question of Canada that seems reasonable would be something like: "Let us know if this person is a fugitive; if we don't hear from you in 12 hours, we'll set them free in the U.S." Then she could walk back to Canada at an official crossing with her passport, and Canada could object to that re-entry if necessary.
They let her contact her mother, who brought her passport. All that was left was for Canada to say she was in Canada legally.
So, Canada does deserve part of the blame. The article says her mother rushed to the detention center with her passport and was told to submit it to Immigration Canada. I have no idea why it took two weeks for officials on both sides to determine she could go back to Canada; but, it sounds like there was some sort of delay on the Canadian side. Of course, neither side will comment on the case.