That's probably what contributed to the situation spiraling out of control. Once there is one denial, every other attempted entry is going to be scrutinized and questioned quite a bit more. Not that at all justifies their treatment.

> Vancouver when an animal ventured into the road, forcing them to make an unexpected detour.

> U.S. authorities disputed the family’s version of events, saying they were spotted via video surveillance “slowly and deliberately driving through a ditch onto Boundary Road in Lynden

Well if they were driving through a ditch it would have to be slow and deliberate, especially with a baby in car. I wonder if the same video surveillance saw this animal too. It would have to be a moose or a bear presumably. Wonder if they were following Google or Apple maps direction. Hopefully there is a big red warning there to not send people on detours via international borders.

> “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,”

It's a bureaucratic hell. US authorities claim they tried to send them to Canada which refused to take them back. But also they tried to contact UK consulate, which also somehow didn't work. At the same time the family say they couldn't contact UK authorities. I think they wanted to be the ones making the call but were denied.