Canadian Woman's Harrowing Experience with U.S. Immigration: "No One Should Go Through This"

Canadian citizen Jasmine Mooney is grappling with the aftermath of her detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after attempting to enter the United States from Mexico at the San Diego border. She recently returned home to British Columbia and described her experience as traumatic and confusing.

"I haven't slept or eaten properly in a while, and I'm just really going through the motions," Mooney shared after landing at Vancouver International Airport. Her ordeal began when she aimed to renew her TN Visa, a non-immigrant visa allowing Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the U.S. Unfortunately, Mooney found herself detained without any indication of impending trouble.

During the application process, which she did successfully before, Mooney encountered a shocking turn of events when agents deemed her unprofessional for lacking appropriate documentation.

Mooney first moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2024 to develop her health drink brand, but her visa was unexpectedly revoked in November of the same year. Her attempts to re-enter the U.S. for work left her detained for almost two weeks, a period she described as disorienting. "Once I arrived, there was no information provided to me. It was a very confusing situation," she lamented.

Reflecting on her time in detention, Mooney recounted the lack of humanity and clarity about her status. "I would never wish the experience I went through on anyone," she stated, emphasizing that the women around her, each with unique circumstances, were similarly bewildered. Many were shocked to learn she was Canadian, assuming she hailed from Russia instead.

One young detainee Mooney met had been trapped in the system for ten months without any answers. "Two weeks for me compared to ten months for her—how can I complain?" Mooney said, underscoring the varying degrees of hardship faced by detainees.

Richard Kurland, a lawyer and immigration policy analyst, commented on the grim realities of immigration detention, emphasizing the lack of rights for foreign nationals compared to U.S. citizens. He noted that conditions can often be deplorable, with inadequate facilities and relentless lighting that creates an oppressive environment.

Kurland warns potential border crossers to be careful and polite to avoid the severe consequences of detention. He intimated that the current immigration climate mirrors past political strategies, illustrating the complexities of cross-border policies.

Mooney's story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges many face in navigating immigration laws, especially as policies continue to evolve in tumultuous times. Her experience is not only a personal nightmare but also a reflection of broader systemic issues within U.S. immigration enforcement.