Two Guyanese, a 40-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy are being held by the Canada Border Services Agency in New Brunswick after they were caught on Monday last attempting to enter the US illegally.

Canada’s CBC News said the woman, Deoranie Ramkissoon, and the boy, who can’t be named, had separate immigration hearings by teleconference on Wednesday morning. They were both charged with conspiracy to violate US Immigration laws after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested them while they were allegedly attempting to illegally enter the United States near St Stephen. The two are being detained on Canadian soil because they were arrested in Canada. CBC News said three New Brunswick men from the St. Stephen area, who were also arrested in connection with the case, have been released on bail. Their next court appearance is February 13.

A spokesman for the Immigration and Refugee Board said the detention of Ramkissoon and the teenager was ordered continued on the ground that if not detained they would not be likely to appear for immigration matters. “If they remain in Canada on January 31,” he said, “there will be another review of detention to determine again whether or not they would remain in detention.”