Canadian actress and entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney recently recounted her harrowing experience, detailing her weeks of detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to an incomplete work visa application. The 35-year-old, known for her role in an American Pie sequel and as a co-founder of the beverage brand Holy! Water, was apprehended on March 3, 2025, while trying to renew her work visa at the San Ysidro border crossing.
Mooney had previously held a valid U.S. work visa for three years, which was unexpectedly revoked during her return trip from Canada in November 2024. Attempting to rectify her status, she arrived at the border with an incomplete application, believing she could rely on the same procedures that once worked for her.
Instead of being returned to Canada or assisted with her application, Mooney was detained for almost two weeks, spending the first three nights in local border facilities before being moved to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, followed by a transfer to San Luis Detention Center in Arizona.
"I was placed in a cell and forced to spend two and a half days sleeping on a mat without a pillow or blanket, with aluminum foil wrapped around my body like a dead body," she told reporters following her eventual release on March 15. A grim picture of her experience emerged, in which Mooney described the chaos and distress she faced throughout her detainment, stating, "I have never in my life seen anything so inhumane."
During her time in ICE custody, Mooney reported poor food quality and physical discomfort, claiming she was shackled during transfers and lost considerable weight because she could not eat what was offered at the facilities. This treatment, she later noted, was exacerbated by the mental anguish stemming from the uncertainty surrounding her status. "Every single guard that saw me was like, ‘What are you doing here? I don’t understand. You’re Canadian. How are you here?’" she recounted to ABC News from inside the detention center.
Mooney's case has drawn widespread media coverage, prompting public discourse about the increasing challenges faced by Canadians at the U.S. border. Immigration attorneys have sounded alarms about the growing risks under current administrations' policies, particularly those implemented by President Trump which promote stricter immigration enforcement.
Jim Hacking, an immigration lawyer, expressed his concerns regarding the trend: "In the 17 years I've been practicing immigration law, I've never heard of a TN visa holder being detained for days on end and not being allowed to enter." He has been advising clients, particularly Canadians, to be increasingly cautious about their immigration status when traveling abroad. "This would include Canadian nationals at present; it’s becoming more difficult for everyone."
Mooney's conditions in detention have spurred discussions about the systemic issues present within immigration enforcement, coinciding with a political climate that often views immigrants through a lens of suspicion. Observers note that such treatment of lawful visa applicants raises significant ethical questions.
On March 15, 2025, upon her release, Mooney arrived at Vancouver International Airport, overwhelmed, and still in disbelief over her experience. "I’m still processing everything," she remarked. Undoubtedly, the mobilization of public sentiment and media attention played a pivotal role in her release. "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," she told reporters.
In reflecting on her ordeal, Mooney acknowledged the emotional toll it has taken. She plans to write about her experiences in detail, 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." Her situation raises vital questions about the treatment of individuals in the immigration system and the need for reforms that hold authorities accountable for the treatment afforded to detainees.
Jasmine Mooney’s story exemplifies the broader conversation surrounding immigration practices, revealing the human side of policies that can often seem abstract or politically charged. As the current administration continues to tighten immigration protocols, advocates are hopeful her experience will spur a reconsideration of how detainees are treated and what rights they are afforded, particularly those who have obligations to the U.S. legal system and have acted in good faith when navigating its complexities.
