A B.C. woman who helps bring rescue dogs from the United States to new homes in Canada says she lost her NEXUS card and was hit with a US$5,000 fine after breaking what one immigration lawyer calls an obscure border rule.
For years, Karyn Methven has travelled to Washington state to pick up rescue dogs destined for adoption in Canada.
“It’s got to be in the thousands,” she said when asked how many dogs she has helped over the years.
But a trip last month may bring those cross-border journeys to a halt.
Methven says she drove through the NEXUS lane on her way into the United States before picking up three rescue dogs in Washington. She then returned to Canada through the commercial crossing with the animals and required paperwork.
While in line at the border, U.S. Homeland Security officials determined she had failed to pay a required US$20 fee before entering the United States and should not have used the NEXUS lane when travelling south.
Within weeks, she says her NEXUS card was revoked and she received notice of a US$5,000 fine.
“That was an outlier because all of the other officers that I’ve dealt with were kind, were polite, were friendly, and this one broke that mold,” Methven said. “This guy had a vendetta.”
In a statement to CTV News, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said NEXUS is intended for personal travel and may not be used for commercial purposes.
“Animals being imported on behalf of rescue organizations or for adoption, must use appropriate processing procedures and comply with all applicable customs requirements including required user fees and manifest declarations,” the agency said.
Blaine, Wash.-based immigration lawyer Len Saunders says the penalty appears extreme.
“It just seems to be completely out of proportion. It seems to be a complete waste of time, and I’m quite frankly shocked that they would take the time. It’s ridiculous,” he said.
Earlier this month, CTV News reported on two other B.C. business owners who lost NEXUS privileges after failing to pay fees they said they did not know were required.
Saunders says the cases represent a change from what he has seen during his decades of practise.
“I’ve never seen in 25 years these types of cases. It’s almost like they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. They’re looking for people violating obscure laws,” he said.
Methven acknowledges she was aware of the fee requirement but says it has often been applied with discretion. She believes a warning would have been more appropriate.
“I understand a zero-tolerance policy, but this is a bridge too far,” she said.
Methven says she plans to appeal the decision. In the meantime, she is urging others travelling to the United States for commercial purposes to be extra cautious, research any required fees and keep detailed records.
“Hit the regular lane or commercial. Don’t let this guy get you,” she said.
