You know that it’s illegal to try to sneak across the border or cross without permission. There’s a very specific set of steps that has to be taken. Not everyone is allowed to cross the border at will or without the proper paperwork.
But what if it’s an accident? Say that you take a wrong turn and you suddenly find yourself attempting an illegal crossing. Could you be arrested or detained?
Arrests do happen
There are actually a fair amount of examples of people crossing borders accidentally and then being arrested.
For example, a former U.S. Marine accidentally drove across the border into Mexico, and he had a firearm in his car. He was arrested and held for more than 200 days before being released. In another case, 14 soldiers from Mexico accidentally came over the border. They were arrested by the U.S. authorities, even though they had not been attempting to invade the mainland United States.
In still another example, a teenager went out for a jog in Canada and actually accidentally entered the United States. She had been running along the beach in Canada and simply went a bit too far. She was then arrested and held for the next two weeks.
What are your options?
As you can see, an accidental border crossing may sound like an innocent mistake or something that could happen to anyone. But it can definitely have serious ramifications and could even result in detention or legal action. That’s why it’s so important to understand all of the legal defense options at your disposal.