Introduction

In a shocking turn of events, Canadian entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney, co-founder of the health drink brand Holy! Water, has found herself at the center of a disturbing immigration saga after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while attempting to re-enter the United States. Reports indicate that Mooney is currently being held under what her family describes as 'inhumane' conditions at a detention center in Arizona.

Background of Detention

Mooney, 35, was apprehended on March 3 after crossing the San Ysidro border from Mexico into San Diego with an incomplete application for a Trade NAFTA (TN) work visa, a situation stemming from a sudden revocation of her previous visa. Her mother, Alexis Eagles, revealed that Mooney was kept in custody at the border for three nights before being transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Centre for an additional three days.

Confusion Surrounding Release

Unexpectedly, an online tracking system suggested that Mooney had been released, only for her family to discover she had been moved to the San Luis Detention Center in Arizona instead. During a distressing phone call with ABC’s 10 News San Diego, Mooney recounted her experience, stating that guards expressed confusion about her detention as a Canadian national.

Conditions in Detention

Describing the conditions at Otay Mesa, Mooney revealed: 'I was put in a cell, and I had to sleep on a mat with no blanket, no pillow, with aluminum foil wrapped over my body like a dead body for two and a half days.' She went on to detail a harrowing overnight relocation to Arizona, where she and 30 other women were transported in chains, a journey that lasted 24 hours.

Public Outcry

Mooney has denounced the conditions at the San Luis detention center as 'inhumane.' While U.S. Customs and Border Protection has refrained from commenting on the specifics of her case due to privacy regulations, they did mention that travelers can be denied entry for various reasons – a process balanced by respect and professionalism, as stated by officials.

Visa Issues and Support

The entrepreneur was originally in the U.S. under a TN visa to develop her business in Los Angeles but faced issues with documentation after an unexpected denial at Vancouver airport last November. 'They said I was unprofessional because I didn’t have a proper letterhead on my paperwork,' she recalled, a claim that has raised eyebrows among her associates.

Responses and Concerns

Calls for Mooney’s release have swelled, with her business partner, BJ McCaslin, expressing disbelief over her treatment, stating, 'It seems like a nightmare and living hell.' Emphasizing Mooney’s reputation as an esteemed figure in the health-food industry, McCaslin added, 'I fully support the American government, but I’m very fearful for my friend.'

Brittany Kors, a close friend of Mooney’s, echoed the sentiments of helplessness among her circle, saying, 'We don’t know what the next steps are. We don’t even know the reason why they are holding her there.'

Government Response

In response to the unfolding situation, Global Affairs Canada has acknowledged their awareness of the case and confirmed that consular officials are engaged to provide assistance and gather information. They have also clarified that while they can support citizens facing challenges abroad, they cannot intervene in another country's immigration policies.

Conclusion

As Jasmine Mooney’s case garners attention, questions arise about the treatment of individuals in immigration detention facilities and the processes that govern entries into the United States. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain, but it has placed a spotlight on the complexities of immigration law and its impact on individuals seeking to cross borders for professional opportunities.