Baxter Reid says his only offense was being an hour and a half late.

By the Australian's estimates, that's the amount of time he overstayed his visa and why he's now in custody at the Federal Detention Center in Batavia.

Reid, 26, in jail since his arrest at the Peace Bridge two weeks ago, is at the center of a story attracting headlines here and in Australia and casting yet another spotlight on U.S. immigration practices his family and girlfriend suggest are heavy-handed.

"We were trying to do the right thing," said Heather Kancso, Reid's American girlfriend. "At this point, our goal is to get him out of detention. He did nothing wrong."

Reid, who has no criminal record, is accused of overstaying a visa that allowed him to be in the United States for six months at a time and for a total of five years.

Kancso says the couple was heading to Canada from New York City to see a friend of hers and, at the same time, fulfill the six-month requirement on Reid's visa by leaving the country and then returning.

On the way there, their car broke down and it was close to 10 p.m. on the day of his visa deadline before they finally reached the Peace Bridge. Kancso said Canadian Customs officials were pleasant but kept them for hours.