Quebec Man Claims U.S. Coast Guard Detained Him in Lake Champlain Waters

Edouard Lallemand, a 60-year-old Quebec resident, claims he was fishing in Canadian waters on Lake Champlain when the U.S. Coast Guard approached and accused him of being in U.S. waters. Despite his protests and certainty that he had not crossed the border, the Coast Guard allegedly pushed his boat into U.S. territory, causing it to capsize and Lallemand to fall overboard. He was then handcuffed, taken into custody by the Coast Guard, and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol, which fingerprinted him and held him in jail for several hours with only a dirty blanket before releasing him without charges. Lallemand described the experience as terrifying and physically and emotionally traumatic, warning others to avoid the border area even if they are certain they are in Canadian waters. The U.S. Coast Guard stated that Lallemand was in U.S. waters, accused him of ignoring commands, and claimed he hit their boat, though Lallemand denies these allegations. His wife and local media have highlighted the incident as a cautionary tale about border enforcement tensions in the region.