The Connors family, two coupes from the United Kingdom, one with a three-month old baby and the other with twin two-year-olds, were on vacation in Canada when the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) turned their holiday into a 12-plus day-long nightmare.
On October 3, the family was driving near the U.S.-Canada border in British Columbia when an animal veered into the road, forcing them to make an unexpected detour.
The family accidentally crossed into the United States where they were detained by ICE officials in what would become "the scariest experience of our lives," according to a complaint filed with the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security.
As British citizens, the Connors were legally allowed to visit America, all they needed to show as a passport. But, instead, they were detained and placed in a "very cold cell" at an undisclosed Border Patrol station in Washington state.
The family's lawyer said these detention cells are routinely referred to as "Hieleras" or "iceboxes."
At the facility, Eileen Connors, 24, and her three-month old son were separated from the rest of their family.
RELATED: People in Tennessee made a human chain to protect their immigrant neighbors from ICE
"The officers left us in the cell the entire day, with no information, no call to our family back home, no idea when we would be free to leave," Connors wrote. She also said the living conditions were unsanitary for her young child and she balanced the baby on top of her throughout the night so it wouldn't have to sleep on a dirty floor.
The next day, the family was told they'd be released if they provided contact information for a family member living in the United States who and the Connors obliged.
Then they were taken to the Seattle airport where they thought their nightmare was over.
Instead, on October 5, they were flown across the country to the Berks Family Residential Center in Pennsylvania. A detention center known as the "baby jail".
"There were a lot of silly decisions made along the way. In this instance, when you're talking about a 3-month-old, those silly decisions can be really dangerous," Connors wrote.
Her son was too young for the showers so it had to be cleansed with a washcloth in an office.On Friday, the baby "woke up with his left eye swollen and teary" and had "rough and blotchy" skin.
When she complained to ICE officials about the conditions, an ICE employee offered to remove their baby.
RELATED: An ICE detention center posted a job listing for a doctor but only one 'philosophically committed' to its objectives
"If we wanted, we could sign papers to allow him to be separated from us and taken to some other facility," Connors wrote according to NPR. "We were shocked and disgusted."
The family also claims they were never given the opportunity to call the British embassy. Instead, they had to rely on family members to get in contact. But after they did, their living conditions improved.
The facility provided a playpen and a wash tub for her son.
On Monday, October 14, after nine days in Pennsylvania, the Connors told The Washington Post they were hopeful they would be released the next day.
The Connors' story is a disgusting show of government overreach. The family was essentially kidnapped, thrown in cages, and transported against their will across a foreign country with zero control over their situation.
It's another example of the terrible immigration paranoia that has turned a country that once welcomed immigrants and people from foreign countries with open arms to a cruel and suspicious police state.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.