Two men from Liverpool are reportedly among four British nationals detained in the United States after allegedly crossing the border illegally from Canada into Maine. The four were charged with unlawful entry, a misdemeanour offence that carries a maximum sentence of six months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine.
According to court documents, the group entered the US on April 3 by hiking along an unpaved logging track known as the 'Golden Road', a 96-mile private road stretching to the Quebec border. Two maple sugar workers spotted the men walking south and alerted a Customs and Border Protection officer. Border Patrol agents later found the four trying to hide in vegetation alongside the road.
The men initially claimed they did not realise they had entered the US. However, a GoPro camera seized by agents contained footage showing one of them saying: 'I can confirm you are now on US soil,' before adding: 'We just made it baby.' All four have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail.
The Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting the four men and is in contact with local authorities. At least two of the men are believed to be from Liverpool, with one reportedly the former owner of a Toxteth takeaway. The ECHO has approached the US Department of Homeland Security for comment.
