Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney, known for her role in the American Pie sequel, was subjected to a distressing immigration ordeal, detained for nearly two weeks by US immigration authorities at the San Ysidro border crossing earlier this month. Mooney, who is also a co-founder of the health-focused tonic drink brand Holy! Water, had entered the US to begin a marketing position but faced unexpected complications due to her work permit paperwork.
Mooney, 35, was hopeful as she approached the San Ysidro crossing on March 3, 2025, eager to start her job. However, she was informed that her application for a TN visa, essential for Canadian professionals to work in the US, had been flagged. Unbeknownst to her, the paperwork should have been handled at a US consulate rather than at the border.
“I thought I was just facing a minor issue,” Mooney recalled. Instead, she was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), experiencing what she described as a journey into a grim and confusing reality.
After being held for two days in a holding cell at the border station, where she was given a mylar blanket and forced to sleep on a mat, she was transferred in shackles to an ICE detention center near San Diego. “They put you in chains,” Mooney said, expressing her shock at the treatment. “That's when I realized they are onboarding me into a real prison.”
Mooney’s experience reveals the troubling increase in unexplained border detentions, particularly for individuals facing delays or complications during immigration applications. Her case is one of many under the current political climate, where stringent immigration enforcement often complicates the lives of many—be it a Canadian actress or a regular tourist.
Prior to this incident, Mooney had initially applied for the TN visa in 2024 but had her request denied due to missing letterhead on her application documents. A successful reapplication led her to the border again, but when she returned to Vancouver for a brief visit, airport officials revoked her visa, citing procedural concerns and issues with one of her employers dealing with hemp-based products.
Immigration attorney Leonard DM Saunders had previously cautioned her about potential difficulties at the border, suggesting that the ongoing political climate could subject individuals like her to increased scrutiny and risk of detention. “You hear all this stuff with these Columbia [students] being detained,” Saunders noted. “What was different? The new political climate.”
During her detention, conditions were harsh. Mooney was subjected to invasive questioning and even a pregnancy test, all under uncomfortable circumstances. “We had to pee in open Dixie cups in the cell, and the bathrooms are open,” she said, recalling the dismal atmosphere among fellow detainees. Her emotional toll grew as she endured various procedures without clarity or answers regarding her situation.
Despite her distressing experience, the public revelation of her case sparked immediate criticism from Canadian officials. British Columbia’s Premier David Eby condemned her treatment, stating, “The harm this does to the US economy through impacted tourism, business relationships, and skilled workers being turned away—it is reckless. This woman should be brought back to Canada as quickly as possible.”
On March 15, after 12 long days of confinement, Mooney was released and flown back to Vancouver, a return orchestrated by her friends and family. Her roommate even covered the $1,100 ticket. However, the release comes with significant consequences; she now faces a five-year ban from reentering the US.
“I love America,” Mooney reflected upon her return. “I love my friends there. I love the life I was building and the opportunities.” Yet now, access to all that remains uncertain.
Her ordeal shines a light on the complicated pathways individuals must traverse to work legally within the US. Despite having no criminal record or ill intentions, Mooney found herself caught in a web of immigration bureaucracy that left her feeling helpless and frightened.
In the wake of her experience, discussions about the treatment of detainees in the US are gaining momentum, especially concerning those who are unlawfully processed despite adhering to regulations. Mooney's experience serves as a chilling example of the unintended consequences stemming from strict immigration policies and how they can drastically upend lives.
Her story embodies a pressing need for reform in immigration enforcement practices to ensure that cases like hers do not repeat. As more people come forward to share their experiences, the hope remains that there can be a brighter, clearer future for those navigating the complexities of immigration policy.
