World · North America · 1 hr ago
Canadian permanent resident dies after avoiding care over deportation fears
Paige Adamson, a Canadian permanent resident, died after living in Point Roberts, Washington, for more than 14 years.
She had been questioned by U.S. border agents after a trip to Canada and was later placed in deportation proceedings.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleged she had registered and voted in an election while presenting herself as a U.S. citizen; green card holders are not allowed to vote.
She feared crossing the border for medical care because she might be detained or deported, and a neighbour said she refused to seek care.
Her death was reported to the county medical examiner on Oct.
18, but the cause of death has not been confirmed.
She had been scheduled to appear before an immigration judge on Nov.
4, but she died before that date, and no further legal steps are described.
Paige Adamson, a Canadian national and U.S. permanent resident, died after avoiding medical care because she feared crossing the border.
She had lived legally in Point Roberts, Washington, for 14 years.
The 61-year-old had recently been detained and questioned by U.S. border agents about whether she had voted in a U.S. election.
Deportation proceedings had begun, and she was due to appear before an immigration judge on Nov. 4.
The cause of her death had not been confirmed.
- Who
- Paige Adamson, a 61-year-old Canadian national and U.S. permanent resident.
- What
- She died after avoiding medical care because she feared crossing the border. The cause of death had not been confirmed.
- When
- She died on Sunday, reported as Oct. 18.
- Where
- Point Roberts, Washington.
- Why
- She was afraid to cross the border for medical care because she feared detention or deportation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Adamson travelled to Canada for her 61st birthday dinner and was detained and questioned when she returned.
She was issued a notice to appear in deportation proceedings.
Adamson told immigration attorney Len Saunders she felt unwell, had missed doctors’ appointments and feared crossing the border to see a doctor.
Adamson died; her death was reported to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s office.
Adamson was scheduled to appear before a federal immigration judge.
- Age
- 61
- Residence
- Point Roberts, Washington
- Time living in Point Roberts
- 14 years
- Border questioning
- Around six hours
- Scheduled court date
- Nov. 4
- Cause of death
- Not yet confirmed
3 sources
What people are saying
It’s interesting because your typical person in deportation proceedings is someone who’s here illegally, they’ve claimed asylum or they have criminal convictions, and when you leave you can’t come back. You self-deport
But as an LPR, legal permanent resident, you have the right to come back in.
But the problem is, she could be detained for four or five hours at the border as they determine whether to parole her back in and she could be taken into custody and sent down to the Northwest Detention Center, so that was her concern