BURLINGTON — Two illegal immigrants from the Ukraine, who authorities say unlawfully crossed the International border in Franklin County this week, have been ordered detained.

The U.S. Border Patrol named Mykhailo Ivanchyn, 21, and Ihor Zelskyi, 27, in a criminal complaint with illegally entering the United States at Richford early Monday.

Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered both men detained Tuesday pending their detention hearings.  Not guilty pleas were entered for both men.  Ivanchyn will be back in federal court Friday and Zelskyi on Monday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole P. Cate asked that both be detained because they were risks to flee from prosecution.

Cate noted both had pending requests for asylum in Canada.  She said convictions in Vermont in this case would hurt those asylum requests.  She said that added to the reasons to flee from prosecution and help avoid the possibility of deportation if convicted.

If convicted as charged, the defendants face up to 6 months in prison. 

Both have Immigration detainers filed against them.

Border Patrol agents were alerted about 12:30 a.m. Monday to at least two individuals wearing backpacks and walking south along the Sutton River in Richford near the international border with Canada, records show.

Border Patrol Agents Daniel Deresh and Daniel Graves were patrolling in the area and about 1:30 a.m. encountered two men wearing water waders and backpacks, court records note.

In previous alien smuggling events along the Sutton River, illegal immigrants had worn waders to traverse the water and help them avoid detection, Border Patrol David T. Palczewski said in a court affidavit.

A valley with trees near the river also helps hide border jumpers.

The federal agents tried speaking with the two men in English and Spanish, but did not have much luck until the suspects said they were from Ukraine, Palczewski said.

Deresh, who is proficient in the Russian language, was then able to carry on a conversation with the two aliens.  

The men were taken to the Border Patrol Office in Richford where an investigation showed they had no known past immigration or criminal history in the United States.

Neither defendant had legal status in the United States or authorization to reside here, records show.

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory work of the Border Patrol.