American actor Randy Quaid and wife Evi Quaid were arrested by U.S. law enforcement Friday night as they tried to enter the United States at a border crossing south of Montreal, according to Vermont State Police.

The Quaids were stopped around 8 p.m. while crossing into Vermont at the border point between Philipsburg, Que., and Highgate Springs, Vt.

Both were detained on arrest warrants stemming from vandalism charges against them in California, and bail was set by a Vermont Superior Court judge for $50,000 US each.

Evi Quaid, seen in a mugshot taken by Vermont State Police, entered a not guilty plea at her arraignment Monday morning on a charge of being a fugitive from justice. (Vermont State Police)

While in Canada, Randy Quaid had been arrested on Tuesday by the Canadian Border Service Agency for being a potential flight risk after he attended a regular check-in as part of deportation proceedings against him. But two days later, an Immigration and Refugee Board member ruled he was not.

The Independence Day actor was ordered to leave Canada by Oct. 14.

The Quaids had applied for refugee status in Canada in 2010, claiming they were being persecuted in the U.S. and were possible targets of so-called "Hollywood star-whackers" who were bent on killing actors.

Evi Quaid's father was born in Canada, and she was granted Canadian citizenship in 2012.

Randy Quaid later withdrew his refugee claim and applied for permanent resident status. His immigration application, however, was denied in 2013 because, according to Federal Court documents, he had been accused of defrauding an innkeeper in California — an act that would be considered a Criminal Code offence in Canada.

The Quaids had been living in Montreal since February 2013.

The Quaids are wanted in Santa Barbara, Calif., to face felony vandalism charges filed in 2010 after they were alleged to be squatters in a guesthouse of a home they previously owned.