Still confused about that carload of British people who crossed into the US

[Beachclubmum]

The news articles said they had $16,000 cash on them. Was that to mean $16,000 cash in American money? Or just currency that was the equivalent in US dollars?

If it's the former, I'm surprised they weren't detained longer. Why oh why would anyone have that much currency for a country they had no intention of visiting?

 

[wackymother]

Yeah, that is a very weird story. I don't think anyone, much less a three-month-old baby, should be held in harsh and inhumane conditions, but the more that comes out about that story, the stranger it gets.

BTW, they had been in Canada, so it's not clear whether they had $16,000 in Canadian currency or American currency, or if they had British pounds worth $16,000. You can go into most countries with large amounts of money, but you usually need to declare anything over $10,000.

 

[RX8]

I hadn’t heard about this so found an article from the Washington Post.

The family claims that they swerved to avoid hitting an animal and inadvertently ended up in the US.

Quoting the article, “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.”

Additionally, two members of the family had previously applied for travel authorization to the US and were denied a visa (for reasons unknown). Attempts were made to return the family to Canada but they refused to accept them back so they were sent to a detention center in the US pending deportation.

I call BS on the family’s story.

 

[SteelerGal]

Very weird story. it does seem that they are trying to use the current immigration policies to their advantage.