I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
www.theguardian.com
I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky

Summary

Canadian citizen Jasmine Mooney was detained by ICE for two weeks despite having a valid U.S. work visa. Stopped at the San Diego border, she was abruptly arrested, denied legal counsel, and held in freezing cells before being transferred to a private detention center.

She witnessed systemic inefficiencies, inhumane conditions, and detainees trapped in bureaucratic limbo.

After media attention and legal intervention, Mooney was released.

Her experience highlights the profit-driven nature of private detention centers and the broader failures of U.S. immigration enforcement under Trump’s administration.

  • Maggoty@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    10 hours ago

    They’re imparting general information to the general public. You are absolutely on a tourist visa while you are there and they can (and do) deny entry and deport people. You do not have some kind of right to visit Canada just because you are American.

    • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      9 hours ago

      You can deny entry when they scan your passport and see your criminal record JFC. Or for whatever other reason. That’s not the same as a visa JFC. I mean if you’re going to literally ignore what’s right in front of you. I’ve never seen such a stunning example of dunning kruger.

        • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          9 hours ago

          The detail? That a visa is not the same as allowing/denying entry? That’s not detailed or complex information.

          • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.caEnglish
            2·
            9 hours ago

            From a high level, “There is a process by which undesirable people can be denied entry” covers both “A visa is required to enter the country” and “A passport and not being on a watchlist is required to enter the country.” So yes, you’re correct, no tourism visa is (currently) needed for Americans to enter Canada. Also, yes, the other guy is correct that mechanisms can relatively easily be put in place to stop undesirable Americans of a variety of types from entering the country.

            • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              8 hours ago

              Mechanisms to deny entry is not the same as a visa. He thinks it is when he says “You do not have some kind of right to visit Canada just because you are American” and it’s not. Period. I can’t believe I need to have this conversation twice. I’m out.

              • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.caEnglish
                1·
                8 hours ago

                You’re the guy who is saying Americans wouldn’t get work permits, yet a substantial number do every year. And while guards may not do that much, there are a lot of ancillary types who likely would. HR, facilities management, construction, security systems, and others I’m sure can and have opted to work in Canada at one time or other for a variety of reasons.

                So there, now you both can be wrong, too.

                • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  1·
                  7 hours ago

                  Why do I bother but fine

                  At this point Canada should be playing hard ball. Ban all visas from anyone working for those companies, or anyone who delivers services to those companies for as long as they work for those companies. If they lie about who they work for, the ban is permanent and they personally are not allowed to set foot in Canada ever.

                  If they currently work for that company, why would they get a work or study visa for Canada. His statement was those workers specifically, as long as they are currently working there. And if they stop working there to get another job or go to school, guess what they are no longer currently working there. (I wonder if this is where you be extremely pedantic and say there can be a small overlap where they work there but apply for a visa to go to school etc slightly before they quit.)

                  Ok really I’m out.