Latest news with #Brockville
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Canadian man denied U.S. entry ahead of wedding, cites alleged overstay
A Brockville, man says he was denied entry to the U.S. in June, days before he was going to marry his American fiancée. CTV's Tyler Fleming reports. A Canadian man says he was denied entry into the United States just days before he was supposed to marry his American fiancée in a small ceremony in upstate New York. Devin Hayden, a Canadian citizen who lives near Brockville, Ont., says he and his partner, Bridget Ellis, have been in a long-distance relationship for four years, regularly crossing the border to visit one another. 'It's not a long drive,' says Hayden. 'It's about an hour and a half, including the border.' The couple had planned a June 14 wedding at a park in Kent, N.Y., with a handful of family and friends. But when Hayden attempted to enter the U.S. on June 2, ahead of the ceremony, he was stopped and questioned by border officials and ultimately turned away. 'They asked me to go to the office to pick up a form, and I thought I was just picking up a form,' he says. 'It turns out I had what they called an overstay, and I had to exit the country immediately.' Hayden says officers reviewed his travel history dating back to November and flagged him for spending too many days in the U.S. as a visitor. He disputes that claim, saying his time south of the border totalled just 154 days. Typically, a visitor to the U.S. can only stay to a maximum of 180 days per year in total. 'Once I saw them all group up and stuff, I'm like, all right, something is about to happen. And then I kind of prepared myself,' he said. 'But once they stood me up, and took fingerprints and stuff, I was like, okay, this is a little worse than I thought it would be.' Adding to the confusion, Hayden says his Canadian passport was nearing its expiration date at the time of his attempted crossing and the 'reason' was left blank on the official denial of entry form he was given. Ellis, who lives in upstate New York and was with Hayden travelling across the border, says all she could do was sit and watch. 'It was a little nerve-racking,' she said. 'I had to turn around and come back to Canada and drop him off and then go back to the states.' The couple had envisioned a simple outdoor ceremony, something low-key but meaningful. 'We were just going to be doing it outside, like at a park with the birds and everything,' Ellis says. 'And live our life the way we want to.' Jennifer Behm, a U.S. immigration lawyer and partner at Berardi Immigration Law in Buffalo, N.Y., says denials like Hayden's are not uncommon, especially when marriage is part of the reason for a visit. 'They (US border agents) are inspecting every visitor for two things. One is, what is the purpose of your entry to the United States, and two, do you intend to depart the United States when you say you're going to depart,' says Behm. 'And so, if someone shows up and the scale is tipping a little bit more heavily towards really strong U.S. ties, that's going to raise a red flag and they're going to be asking a lot of questions,' she continued. 'There is no law that says you can't come to the United States and get married—they're not breaking the law—it's just all of these other factors and the compounded weight of not being convinced the individual has plans to return to Canada.' Behm adds this is a common occurrence at the U.S. Canada border, and that the border agent's actions are 'business as usual,' emphasizing this situation is not politically motivated and that an agent's perception of intent to stay can often be enough for a denial. 'I'd be shocked if he was permitted to enter as a visitor anytime soon,' says Behm. 'Generally, we tell clients once you've been denied entry to the United State, you have to do the heavy lifting to re-establish really strong ties back to your home country֫—here, that being Canada—to show the officer that, in the future when you do request entry, you've got something to return back to Canada to.' For now, Ellis continues to travel to Canada to see Hayden. Both are trying to stay positive. 'I'm hoping once the new passport arrives maybe I'll be allowed back in,' Hayden says. 'We're working well through it, considering the circumstances. We're making do with what we can right now. It's hasn't torn us apart.'
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Taking a road trip to Brockville
We're taking a trip to Brockville, known as the city of the 1000 islands, Lyndsay Bigley from Brockville Tourism gives us some fun options.
CTV News
20-07-2025
- CTV News
Police investigating alleged arson near Brockville
An OPP cruiser is seen in this undated file photos. (CTV News) Ontario Provincial Police are conducting an arson investigation into a house fire near Brockville early Sunday morning. In a news release, police say officers responded to a report of a fire at a single-family home shortly after 5 a.m. OPP Const. Joey Mason says the fire occurred in the Tincap area but could not provide further details. The home was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported, police say. An investigation continues. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and reference incident E250961474. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave your tip online at
CTV News
17-07-2025
- CTV News
Brockville man turns himself in to police after alleged bear mace attack
The Brockville Police Service says a 29-year-old man is facing assault and weapon charges following an incident over the weekend that allegedly involved bear mace. According to police, two people got into an argument at around 1 p.m. Sunday, July 13, that escalated to the point where one man allegedly sprayed bear mace in the other person's face. The victim was treated for minor, non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Three days later, the suspect in the attack turned himself in. The man is now facing charges of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- CTV News
2 suspects arrested following alleged stabbing threat in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville police say two suspects have been arrested following a disturbance Tuesday evening. According to police, several people called 9-1-1 at around 9 p.m. saying a man was being chased around James and Bartholomew streets by two others who were reportedly trying to stab him. Officers found the victim and the two suspects around Orchard Street and King Street East. Investigators determined that the incident began with an argument between three people, who were 13, 19, and 21. During the dispute, the 21-year-old man allegedly threatened to stab the 19-year-old man and slapped him in the face. The 13-year-old boy allegedly produced a knife and also threatened to stab the 19-year-old. That's when the 19-year-old ran. Police say he was not seriously injured. 'The victim fled the area with the two subjects giving chase. This sparked further commotion, and other youths began to run within the area adding to the disturbance,' said police. The 21-year-old suspect is charged with assault and uttering threats and has been released with conditions and a future court date. The 13-year-old suspect was held for a bail hearing on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and uttering threats.
