Please refer to Title 8 USC 1324(a): penalty for "alien smuggling" includes a fine and/or imprisonment for "not more than 10 years."

If not this statute Karen and her husband violated some similar aspect of U.S. immigration law.

Or at least reasonable suspicion if not probable cause to detain her.

She and presumably her husband got a mere six weeks, not 10 years, no criminal charges, in exchange for agreeing not to try to re-enter for 10 years.

HER HUSBAND would not have been able to do so anyway. Most likely neither would she as his aider and abettor. Most likely they would have been subject to a lifetime permanent ban from coming to the U.S. if this had been litigated either civilly or criminally. Plus jail time if it was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

SHE agreed to the MINIMUM civil penalty she would have gotten under ANY circumstances. Obviously she probably also signed a covenenant not to sue etc.

Her husband was in the U.S. illegally on an expired visa. She knew that. They left to go to Canada but Canada didn't want them either because it must have been obvious that they were both behaving in violation of the respective countries' immigration laws. She then tried to aid and abet her husband in re-entering the U.S. illegally.

She got a sweetheart deal and she should be thanking her lucky stars she only did 6 weeks in the hoosegow.