An unexpected traffic circle near the US-Canada border has been causing confusion, leading some drivers to face legal issues amid heightened immigration enforcement under Donald Trump’s administration.

This particular roundabout, located in Buffalo, New York, includes an elusive exit that inadvertently directs drivers straight into Canada.

Since its installation on the Peace Bridge a decade ago, thousands have mistakenly taken this route, becoming entangled in the confusion it creates.

With immigration now under close scrutiny, what was once a minor misstep has become a significant problem for motorists, particularly for those on visas attempting to re-enter the US.

One such driver, Shovgi Huseynov, a research scientist at the University of Buffalo, found himself ensnared by this navigational pitfall last month.

Originally from Azerbaijan, Huseynov has been granted permission to work in the United States until 2029, as confirmed by his legal representatives to The New York Times.

But he found himself detained for weeks after he unsuccessfully attempted to turn around before crossing the bridge. 

Huseynov was released in late January. In a video posted online following his release, Huseynov expressed his relief to be home with his children. 

A confusing roundabout in New York has travelers accidentally crossing Canada’s border over with no way to turn back 

Shovgi Huseynov, a research scientist at the University of Buffalo seen right, attempted to turn around before crossing the Peace Bridge last month, but found himself detained for weeks

As a way to warn travelers, temporary electronic signs have been put up before the roundabout

Huseynov said his release was possible because his ‘documents were legal and in accordance with the law’.

‘I have now returned to my normal life and everything is fine,’ he added. 

His detention has drawn further criticism on Trump’s war on immigration. 

‘I am traumatized when I think about what is happening to families,’ Governor Kathy Hochul said at a news conference, the Times reported. ‘I mean, this insanity has to stop.’ 

Hochul instructed the State Department of Transportation to put up temporary electronic signs at the entrance of the roundabout, which clearly warn drivers of the turn they may be about to make into another country. 

As travelers enter the roundabout, the signs alternate between displaying ‘Right Ramp’ and ‘To Canada Only.’ 

Officials with the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority warned the design may confuse drivers back when it was created a decade ago.

The construction led to the removal of a roadway which had been used for decades by drivers to turn around before reaching Canada. 

Motorists have been increasingly detained after trying to cross back into the US from Canada amid Trump’s immigration crackdown 

‘At the time New York State was designing this project, the Bridge Authority explicitly raised concerns about the Porter Avenue roundabout,’ Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera and State Senator April Baskin wrote in a letter obtained by the Daily Mail to New York transportation officials last month. 

‘Under normal circumstances, this design flaw would be unacceptable. In this current moment, it is indefensible,’ the letter states.

The letter added that they had specifically noted the ‘irregular design’ that ‘would create functional and safety problems’.

‘Their recommendation was clear: The roundabout should not be constructed,’ Rivera and Baskin continued. 

‘That advice was ultimately ignored, as the project was not under the Bridge Authority’s jurisdiction.’

The State Department of Transportation put up the temporary electronic signs at the entrance of the roundabout on the order of Governor Kathy Hochul, a longtime critic of the immigration crackdown

As the political climate has changed the pair added that the bridge acts as an, ‘unintended border crossing can carry severe and life-altering consequences’.

Their letter cited a case involving a Colombian immigrant who was detained for weeks after GPS  guided him across the bridge. 

The immigrant, Victor, was authorized to work in the United States as he sought out political asylum, the Times reported. 

However, while the temporary electronic signs are a good place to begin, Buffalo’s new mayor Sean Ryan believes a more long-term solution is necessary.

‘Everyone is thinking about a more permanent solution,’ Ryan told the Times. ‘We spent so much money doing that plaza redesign and it really worked at getting traffic off the streets.

‘We need to have a better stopgap. I am trying to see what else we can do so the chances are decreased that you pick the wrong lane.’

Journalists for the Times encountered the issue themselves last year after following directions to a restaurant on a maps app. A Canadian border agent told the journalists that the wrong turnings occur ‘at least 20 times a day’.

A solution is expected to take a considerable amount of time due to the amount of people that oversee the operations of the Peace Bridge and the border crossing that would need to be involved in the decision. 

Glenn Blain, assistant communications director for the Transportation Department, said in a written statement to the Times that, ‘the State took immediate action to reduce these instances’.

A Canadian border agent told the journalists for The New York Times, that also made the mistake, that the wrong turnings occur ‘at least 20 times a day’

After motorists enter onto the ramp to Canada, there is no turning back and travelers have to continue on to Canada and into the hands of immigration enforcement

Blain added that New York State is ‘working closely with the city of Buffalo, Thruway Authority and Peace Bridge Authority to alert drivers ahead of the border’.

Certain steps, according to Ryan, could be taken by US Customs and Border Protection, including removing orange barrels currently in place that block drivers from turning around at a certain point near customs booths. 

Both Baskin and Rivera agreed with Ryan. The pair said they have called on the Bridge Authority, an acting landlord for federal border agencies, to consider letting travelers exit through a gate at the edge of the travel plaza on the US side, the Times reported. 

The Bridge Authority’s Chief Executive Thomas Boyle said that CBP has control over the gate in question, and he had urged officials to consider fixing the source of the problem in the roundabout. 

‘We want to see a solution,’ Boyle told the outlet. ‘Our main statement at this point is solutions can be made where the problem persists.’ 

Rivera condemned current officials’ strategy in fixing the problem, criticizing current work for finding a solution better suited for the government rather than the travelers encountering the issue. 

‘We need to make clearer to people that CBP is the tenant and not the one calling the shots,’ Rivera told the outlet. ‘We’re the landlord. We’re the owners.’

US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement to the Daily Mail that they remain ‘committed to ensuring the safe and orderly processing of all travelers at the Peace Bridge’

US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement to the Daily Mail that they remain, ‘committed to ensuring the safe and orderly processing of all travelers at the Peace Bridge.’

‘We maintain regular communication with the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority as a key partner in these efforts and work collaboratively to address traffic patterns and support efficient operations.

‘Border security and our law enforcement mission remain our priority in maintaining the safety of our communities and our nation,’ the statement concluded.  

The Daily Mail reached out to Governor Hochul, Buffalo and Fort Erie Bridge Authority, Mayor Sean Ryan and State Senator April Baskin for comment.