The passport was available as soon as the relative reached the detention center – strongly implied to be the same day as the arrest. That's when I'd consider th

The passport was available as soon as the relative reached the detention center – strongly implied to be the same day as the arrest. That's when I'd consider the 'reasonableness' clock to have started. The Google Map attached to the story, with photos and annotated positions of the beach and nearest border sign, are highly suggestive her explanation was credible, and should have been self-evidently so to agents on the ground. As w citizen of a country with visa-free travel to the US, the only question of Canada that seems reasonable would be something like: "Let us know if this person is a fugitive; if we don't hear from you in 12 hours, we'll set them free in the U.S." Then she could walk back to Canada at an official crossing with her passport, and Canada could object to that re-entry if necessary.