A British Columbia woman’s 11-day detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sparked outrage and fear among Canadians.
Jasmine Mooney, 35, endured harsh conditions in what she calls soul-crushing “ice boxes,” emerging to advocate for others trapped in the system.
Her viral ordeal, shared on April 5, 2025, by CBC News, highlights a chilling shift in U.S. border policies—here’s the full story shaking up travel plans in 2025.
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A Routine Visa Renewal Turns Into a ICE detention
Jasmine Mooney never imagined her attempt to renew a U.S. work visa would land her in detention.
On March 3, 2025, the 35-year-old Canadian crossed into San Diego from Mexico, hoping to update her paperwork at an immigration office.
Despite a U.S. lawyer’s warning against this route, Mooney trusted past successes—she’d secured a visa there in April 2024.
This time, she was denied entry, then abruptly detained.
For 11 days, Mooney was shuttled between facilities, starting at Otay Mesa Detention Center near the U.S.-Mexico border.
She describes concrete cells dubbed “ice boxes”—freezing, windowless spaces where detainees huddled under thin foil blankets.
“It shatters you into a million pieces,” she shared on April 3.
“The conditions are revolting.”
Her story exploded online, raising alarms about U.S. immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
From Actress to Advocate: Who Is Jasmine Mooney?
Mooney’s life reads like a multi-act play.
Born in Yukon and later based in British Columbia, she’s juggled careers as an actress, bar owner, and health product marketer.
Her latest venture?
Selling hemp-infused water in California, a job she loved until visa woes derailed her.
She’d crossed the border countless times without issue, making her detention a blindsiding shock.
Her troubles began last spring when a Blaine, Washington, border officer rejected her visa application over a missing employer letterhead.
She tried again in San Diego, succeeding in April 2024, and worked legally until November.
Returning from a Canadian family visit, her visa was revoked—agents flagged her hemp product as a concern.
Undeterred, a new job offer spurred her ill-fated March trip, ending in ICE custody.
Inside the “Ice Boxes”: A Detainee’s Tale
Mooney’s 11-day ordeal was a descent into despair.
At Otay Mesa, she joined 140 women in a unit ringed by barbed wire in California’s Ysidro Mountains foothills.
She recalls frigid cells, foil blankets offering little warmth, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness.
“You’re stripped of dignity,” she said.
Transfers to other facilities—like San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona—meant shackles, medical tests, and sleep deprivation.
She refused food at first, overwhelmed by the “disgusting” treatment.
But the women around her—many detained for months—urged resilience.
“I met someone stuck there for eight months,” Mooney said.
“They helped me survive and begged me to share their stories.”
From India, Iran, and Africa, these women bore scars and bug bites from perilous journeys, only to face detention and likely deportation.
Why Was Mooney Detained?
Mooney’s detention stemmed from a visa snag, but the severity stunned experts.
After her March 3 denial, an officer assured her she wasn’t in trouble—just ineligible.
“You’re not a criminal,” the woman said, suggesting a consulate reapplication. Moments later, a male agent intervened, ordering her to follow him.
Her shoelaces were yanked—a precaution against self-harm, she later learned—signaling jail, not a flight home.
ICE spokesperson Sandra Grisolia tied Mooney’s case to the “Securing Our Borders” Executive Order, signed January 21, 2025, by President Donald Trump.
It mandates arrest and detention for anyone violating U.S. immigration law, regardless of nationality.
Mooney’s hemp product and revoked visa flagged her as removable, triggering an unexpectedly harsh response.
A “Chilling Effect” on Canadian Travelers
Mooney’s ordeal isn’t isolated—it’s a warning bell.
Immigration lawyer Len Saunders, based in Blaine, Washington, calls it a “huge chilling effect” on Canadians.
“I’ve never seen a Canadian detained like this for a visa renewal,” he said.
Saunders had cautioned Mooney against the San Diego crossing, citing Trump’s tougher stance.
“She wasn’t sneaking in—she thought she was following rules,” he added.
Experts see a broader trend. “It’s not just Canadians,” Saunders told.
“It’s a scorched-earth approach to anyone entering the U.S.”
He advises visa applicants to stick to airports, where Canadian soil offers safety from detention.
Cases like Mooney’s—plus a German tattoo artist held for over a month and a British backpacker detained 10 days—signal heightened scrutiny, spooking travelers.
The Human Cost: Stories Left Behind
Mooney emerged shaken but determined to amplify others’ plights.
At Otay Mesa, she met women who’d sacrificed everything for America, only to languish in limbo.
“They trekked from continents away, paying thousands, giving up homes,” she said.
“Now they’re jailed, facing deportation.”
One woman, detained eight months, became a symbol of the system’s grind.
A Chinese inmate’s kindness—sharing phone time—helped Mooney alert the outside world.
Her story went viral, unbeknownst to her, as advocates rallied.
Released after 11 days, she felt “lucky” compared to those left behind.
“I had support,” she said. “Imagine those without it.”
Trump’s Border Crackdown: Context and Fallout
Mooney’s detention reflects Trump’s 2025 immigration push.
The January executive order ramps up enforcement, targeting all “aliens” breaking visa rules.
It’s part of a broader crackdown—ICE deported over 28,000 people from January 20 to March 11, per Newsweek.
Canadians, once waved through with ease, now face the same net.
Other cases echo Mooney’s. A Guatemalan mom was held five days after a wrong turn at Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge.
A German couple faced handcuffs returning from Tijuana.
“It’s random but ruthless,” says immigration analyst Maria Lopez.
“Minor errors now mean major consequences.”
Travelers are rethinking U.S. trips, with some opting out entirely.
How It Unfolded: A Timeline of Terror
Spring 2024: Mooney’s first visa denial at Blaine over paperwork.
April 2024: Successful San Diego application; she works in California.
November 2024: Visa revoked after a Canada visit—hemp flagged.
March 3, 2025: Denied entry at San Diego, detained by ICE.
March 3-14: 11 days in Otay Mesa and beyond—cold cells, transfers.
March 14: Released, story goes viral.
Her lowest moment?
“When they took my shoelaces,” she said.
“I knew I wasn’t going home.”
Canada Fights Back: A Family’s Plea
Mooney’s family mobilized fast.
Her mother, Alexis Eagles, posted updates on Facebook, decrying “inhumane” conditions.
Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai wrote to ICE, demanding her release and fair treatment.
B.C. Premier David Eby raised diplomatic concerns, noting strained U.S.-Canada ties.
“This fuels anxiety,” he said.
A friend’s call, enabled by a detainee’s phone time, sparked media coverage.
“I didn’t know people were fighting for me,” Mooney said.
Her release came days later, but the trauma lingers.
What’s Next for Mooney?
Back in Canada, Mooney plans to appeal her visa revocation.
“I love the U.S.,” she said, dreaming of resuming her marketing career.
But the experience has shifted her perspective.
“I want to expose this system,” she vowed, advocating for the women she left behind.
Saunders supports her appeal but warns of challenges.
“The climate’s hostile,” he said.
“It’ll be an uphill battle.”
Why This Matters to You
Mooney’s story isn’t just hers—it’s a wake-up call.
Planning a U.S. trip?
Here’s what to know:
Visa Risks: Even minor issues can trigger detention.
Travel Smart: Use airports for visa processing—safer ground.
Trump’s Impact: Policies are tightening; Canadians aren’t immune.
Cross Country Checkup’s April 6, 2025, episode asked: “How is Trump changing your travel plans?”
Mooney’s case suggests many are rethinking their southern jaunts.
A System Under Fire
Critics blast ICE’s tactics as overreach.
“Criminals get more rights,” tweeted analyst Alex Nowrasteh on March 20.
Private detention firms like CoreCivic and GEO Group, which run facilities like Otay Mesa, profit per detainee—hundreds of millions annually, per Mooney’s Guardian essay.
“There’s no rush to release,” she wrote.
Advocates demand reform. “It’s not security—it’s punishment,” says Lopez.
For now, detainees like Mooney’s cellmates wait, their fates uncertain.
Stay Informed, Speak Out
Mooney’s 11 days exposed a hidden crisis.
“That place breaks you,” she said, her words echoing online.
Whether you’re a traveler, a Canadian, or just curious, her story demands attention.
Share it, discuss it—because the next detainee could be someone you know.
Stay updated with CTC News.
