I will be arriving at YVR from YYZ on a AC domestic flight in the morning and leaving late in the day on an AC US bound flight. I made this long connection so that I could attend a meeting in the city during the day. Because it is a US bound connection, if I check the baggage right through, it goes to a different carousel inside the US area & awaits my arrival for pickup & transit thru US customs & immigration.

If I leave these bags for say 5 hours, is that okay or do the US authorities remove the bags & do something with them? The bags will show the final flight on the tags so the late connection will be evident I presume.