Jasmine Mooney has spoken out after her arrest by agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detailing her harrowing 12-day ordeal spent in various facilities across the Southwest. Mooney, best known for her role in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, shared her experience during an emotional interview with CTV News at the Vancouver International Airport upon her return on March 15, 2025. She stated that she was "still processing" what had happened during her detention.
Mooney crossed the San Ysidro border between Mexico and San Diego on March 3, 2025, carrying an incomplete application for a new Trade NAFTA (TN) work visa after her previous visa had been unexpectedly revoked. According to her mother, Alexis Eagles, Mooney was held at the border for three nights before being transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Centre in San Diego, where she endured three more nights under, as she described, "inhumane" conditions.
“I was sleeping on a mat with no pillow or blanket, wrapped in aluminum foil like a dead body for two and a half days,” she revealed, recounting the lack of basic necessities and comfort during her confinement. Her ordeal was compounded by a tracking system indicating her release, misleading family and friends, as it was discovered that she had been transferred to the San Luis Detention Center in Arizona.
The American actress finally returned home, expressing her gratitude for the support she received from friends, family, and media outlets. In a since-expired Instagram Story, she said, "I'm sorry if I haven't been able to respond to everyone — just got home after what felt like escaping a deeply disturbing psychological experiment. I am beyond grateful for my friends, family, and the media who worked tirelessly to get me out — without them, I’d still be there. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone.”
Mooney also announced her intention to write an essay about her experience, stating, “While I was in prison, I began writing an essay about my experience, which I will be sharing soon. I refuse to let what happened break me; instead, I’m choosing to use my voice in the hope that it can help others.”
During her conversation with CTV News, Mooney expressed frustration about the lack of information provided during her detention. “No one told me anything. Not once,” she said. “I still don’t even know how I’m home,” illustrating the confusion and anxiety she faced throughout her ordeal.
When asked if she regretted applying for a new visa, Mooney did not hesitate. “Of course,” she answered. “If I knew that that was even a possibility, like even a possibility that that could happen, I would have never, in a million years gone there.” Her reflections on the process highlight the adversity faced by individuals navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that Mooney’s detention stemmed from her “not having legal documentation” to be in the U.S. and mentioned that she was “processed in accordance” with former President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding immigration enforcement. “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the U.S., regardless of nationality,” the spokesperson continued, encapsulating the strict adherence to immigration laws in place.
Mooney's story has resonated widely, drawing attention to the plight of many facing similar situations within the complicated U.S. immigration system. Her determination to share her narrative and advocate for others reflects a growing dialogue about the treatment of immigrants and the experiences they endure within detention facilities.
As her story unfolds, many are left to ponder the implications of such immigration policies, standing at the intersection of law and human rights. Jasmine Mooney’s experience raises critical questions about the efficacy of current immigration regulations and the human cost of enforced policies that dictate the fates of countless individuals seeking a better life.
