January 4, 2026 | Vancouver, British Columbia — Dalena Reporters
A Canadian woman has been formally charged in the United States following an unusual and serious incident at the Peace Arch border crossing between Surrey, British Columbia, and Washington state, authorities in the U.S. confirmed.
According to FBI and U.S. court documents, the woman is facing two federal counts assault on a federal officer and improper entry after allegedly crossing from Canada into Washington and kicking a U.S. border agent in the face during an attempted entry on Tuesday, January 3, 2026.
The incident reportedly began when the woman was denied entry at the Peace Arch crossing because she was in possession of a marijuana vape pen, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents identified as an inadmissible item under U.S. law.
After being refused entry, investigators say the woman walked across a buffer zone at Peace Arch State Park — a common area that spans the border and is visited by Canadians and Americans alike — before entering U.S. territory without proper authorization.
Border officials allege that upon contact with CBP agents, she hurling obscenities, resisted arrest and, at one point, kicked a female supervisor in the face, escalating the matter to federal criminal charges.
In her defense, the woman told investigators she was trying to meet her fiancé to retrieve their dog and insisted she did not intend to strike anyone, according to FBI filings.
The case underscores the strict enforcement of U.S. border security and immigration laws, especially at key crossings like Peace Arch where both countries maintain high traffic and law enforcement cooperation. Cross-border rules governing admissibility can differ significantly from Canadian policies, particularly regarding cannabis products, and non-compliance can have serious legal consequences.
The accused is expected to appear in U.S. federal court later this month to answer to the charges, which carry potential penalties that reflect the seriousness of assaulting a federal officer and unlawfully entering U.S. territory.