A Chilean woman who bought tickets to a performance at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House used the landmark's unique cross-border layout to enter the United States illegally, federal court records show.
Maria Paz Gonzalez-Vidal, 59, pleaded guilty on June 29 in U.S. District Court in Burlington to being an alien entering the United States at a place other than designated by immigration officers. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle sentenced her to time served and waived a fine.
According to a complaint by Border Patrol Agent Andrew Floriani, Gonzalez-Vidal bought two tickets for a June 13 performance of Dear Evan Hansen! by the Borderline Players, one on the Canadian side and one on the American side. She entered on the Canadian side, then presented the U.S. ticket to leave through the American door after the show.
Around 10:30 p.m. that night, a Derby Line resident reported a woman with reddish hair and a heavy accent knocking on their door asking for directions to the Border Motel. Agent Greg Bronson found her sitting along Route 5 about 1.5 miles from the Canadian border. She refused to identify herself, claiming Bronson lacked authority. She became agitated when detained and resisted handcuffing, according to the affidavit, but was eventually subdued without injury.
Fingerprints matched records showing Gonzalez-Vidal had entered the U.S. multiple times under a visa waiver program. On December 29, 2025, she tried to enter from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry but was denied because she had overstayed a previous visa. She withdrew her application and flew back to Chile. Two subsequent visa applications in 2026 were denied.
In a post-Miranda interview, Gonzalez-Vidal said her husband is a U.S. citizen but is unable to sponsor her due to illness and lack of income. She said she looked up easy border crossing points while staying in Magog, Quebec, and the Haskell library appeared on her phone. Surveillance footage confirmed she entered the opera house on the Canadian side and exited into the U.S., changing some clothing inside, according to the complaint.
Originally reported by the Barton Chronicle.
Photo: Joe Gratz (Wikimedia Commons, CC0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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