Jasmine Mooney, the Canadian actress known for her work in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, found herself at the center of intense media scrutiny after she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly two weeks. Mooney attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro on March 3 to renew her work visa, but instead of entering the country, she was taken captive.
Mooney had planned her crossing with care, armed with proper documentation for her visa renewal on the advice of her lawyer, but found herself unprepared for the ordeal she would face. “I’m still, to be honest, really processing everything. I haven’t slept in a long time and haven’t eaten proper food,” she admitted upon her return to Vancouver International Airport on March 15, 2025.
Upon her detention, Mooney was placed at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where she faced severe conditions. “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,” reported the actress to KGTV. She characterized her experience as not just horrifying, but akin to being subjected to “a deeply disturbing psychological experiment.”
Over the course of 12 days, Mooney was shuttled between various ICE facilities, often without significant explanation about her mistreatment. “No one told me anything. Not once,” she expressed, highlighting the lack of communication from authorities as she endured what many would describe as a traumatic experience.
During her time at Otay Mesa, Mooney lost weight due to the poor quality of food, stating she refused to eat what was provided. “While I was there, I began writing 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 to help others,” she stated, embodying resilience against her situation.
The culmination of her detention was marked by being moved under dubious conditions to the San Luis Detention Center, Arizona. During this transfer, she was unceremoniously shackled and forced to remain awake for 24 hours. “That’s when I realized they are onboarding me to real prison,” Mooney reflected on the frightening nature of her sudden loss of freedom.
The exact cause for her detention remains unclear. Initially, speculation arose about her ties to Holy! Water, the full-spectrum hemp beverage brand she co-founded, but there has been no official connection established between her detention and her association with the brand. Complications arose due to incomplete application forms, with authorities deeming her documentation as unprofessional for lacking proper letterhead.
British Columbia Premier David Eby vocally criticized U.S. immigration actions, underscoring the broader anxiety Canadians share about their interactions with American immigration policy under the Trump administration. “What about our relatives who are working in the States? What about when we cross the border? What kind of experience are we going to have?” he questioned, emphasizing the repercussions this ordeal could have on tourism and trade relationships.
Mooney's case is not isolated, prompting questions about the treatment meted out to travelers crossing the border, particularly Canadians. The inference remains troubling as reports of similarly untreated individuals detained at U.S. borders continue to surface.
Upon her release, Mooney looked back on her plight and how the support from her family, friends, and media played pivotal roles. “My friends and my family and the media are the reason, I think, I’m home,” she remarked, expressing gratitude but simultaneously shining light on the uncertainties still plaguing her mind.
While onlookers have noted the psychological trauma she faced, Mooney hopes to right some wrongs and has plans to challenge her current five-year ban from re-entering the United States. “I love America,” she said poignantly. “I love my friends there. I love the life I was building there and the opportunities.”
Mooney's story remains an unsettling representation of how immigration policies can directly affect individuals. The Canadian actress’s fight serves as both testimony to personal resilience and as a clarion call for consideration of humane treatment and pathways for those seeking to navigate cross-border legality.
