SARNIA, Ontario, May 7 (UPI) -- Discrimination complaints from both sides of the border have been filed after a U.S. woman was denied entry into Canada because she is on welfare.

Canada Border Services Agency officials Sunday twice refused Rose Kelley, 25, of Owosso, Mich., entry into the country at the Sarnia, Ontario, border crossing at the base of Lake Huron, Sun media reported Thursday.


In her written complaint to the agency, Kelley said the officer ignored the fact a Canadian couple was paying for her visit with them.

"The officer said a person on welfare shouldn't be going on vacation," Kelley said in her May 4 complaint to the CBSA. "He said: 'You really should not come back to the border until your life drastically changes.'"

The Canadian couple who tried to bring Kelley into the country in their car twice also filed a complaint, the report said.

A CBSA spokesman told the news agency visitors must show they can financially support themselves while in Canada.