Raleigh, N.C. — The birth mother accused of abducting two Apex twins and taking them to Canada returned to the United States on Monday to face kidnapping charges.

Allison Quets, 49, is accused of taking the 17-month-old children to Ottawa before Christmas.

She appeared in a Canadian court Monday so that her extradition could be finalized and she could surrender to authorities in Syracuse, N.Y.

She is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and faces charges in federal court.

Quets, of Orlando, Fla., gave the children up for adoption shortly after their birth and has been in a legal fight to gain custody of them ever since.

She had monthly visitation rights, but they were revoked last week. She did not return with the twins from her last such visit.

Quets spoke to The Ottawa Citizen newspaper over the weekend and described her relationship with the children as "a real connection."

"They are the joy of my life. They are everything to me," she said.

Quets' attorney has said she will continue fighting for legal custody. That case is taking place in Florida.