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A Canadian woman living in the United States died after reportedly avoiding medical care due to fears of detention and deportation by American immigration authorities. Paige Adamson, 61, passed away on Sunday at her home in Point Roberts, a small U.S. enclave in Washington State that is only accessible by land through Canada.
U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders represented Adamson and confirmed her death. He said she had suffered an injury and needed medical attention. However, she was too afraid to cross into British Columbia and travel to Bellingham to receive care. Her fear stemmed from a previous experience at the border, where authorities interrogated her and threatened her with deportation upon her return to the United States.
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Fear of Deportation Kept Her From Seeking Help
Saunders explained that Adamson had received clear advice not to leave the U.S. “She was advised not to leave the U.S., because if she did leave and come back, she could be taken into custody and taken down to Tacoma,” he said. As a result, she feared crossing into Canada and then being unable to return home to Point Roberts.
The isolated geography of Point Roberts made her situation especially difficult. The community sits below the 49th parallel and has no direct land connection to the rest of the United States. Therefore, any resident needing major medical services must travel through Canada to reach American facilities. Point Roberts does have a local medical clinic, but it remains unclear whether Adamson sought treatment there or whether the clinic could have addressed her condition.
Deportation Hearing Was Scheduled for Next Month
Saunders said Adamson had lived in the United States for 14 years and held a green card. Despite that, she faced a deportation hearing scheduled for next month. Friends said she had fallen recently and died at home on Sunday. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of her death.
Adamson’s case is not isolated. Saunders noted that approximately six other Canadians living in Washington State are also currently facing deportation proceedings. Her death has drawn attention to the real-world consequences that immigration enforcement fears can have on vulnerable residents, particularly those living in geographically unique communities like Point Roberts.
