Canadian with criminal record left stranded in Hawaii - Pardons

Like all of us, 54 year old mother of two Marcia Fox has made a few mistakes in her life. What she didn’t realize is that one youthful indiscretion would land her in jail.

When Fox was nineteen, one of her friends convinced her to shoplift. Although she wasn’t convicted, she was arrested. Over the years, she forgot about her one brush with the law.

Thirty-five years later, Fox took a trip to Australia with her family, requiring U.S. entry en route. She successfully obtained U.S. entry on the flight to Australia, but upon her return, things started to get complicated.

Because Fox attempted U.S. entry with a criminal record, she was breaking the law. It is illegal for Canadians with criminal records to attempt U.S. entry without a waiver.

Even though Fox was only attempting U.S. entry to travel to and from Australia, the American authorities detained her.

Fox spent the next month in an American prison, isolated from her home and family. The Fox family wracked up thousands of dollars in legal and judicial fees. Eventually, Fox was released from prison and returned to her Brantford home.

I didn’t know that my one arrest made it illegal to attempt U.S. entry,” Fox said of her ordeal. “What I went through was horrific. I wouldn’t want anyone to deal with what I had to. Know the facts about U.S. entry or you could be arrested too.”

For more information please visit www.canadianpardons.ca