Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney held by ICE and shackled after U.S. visa denied. People.com
A B.C. woman who spent nearly two weeks in U.S. immigration detention is finally home. Jasmine Mooney, 35, arrived at Vancouver International Airport just before midnight on Saturday. Her mother, Alexis Eagles, and a group of friends were there to welcome her back.
Mooney, a businesswoman and former actress, had been living in B.C. before traveling abroad. She was detained by U.S. immigration officials on March 3 after her visa was denied while trying to enter California from Mexico.
Eagles described her daughter’s detention conditions as “inhumane.” She said Mooney was held in a crowded cell with 30 other people and had limited access to bathrooms.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Mooney was detained for "not having legal documentation" to enter the country. She was processed under an executive order that allows the arrest of anyone violating U.S. immigration laws.
The case has sparked concerns among Canadians, especially those with ties to the U.S. On Thursday, B.C. Premier David Eby urged the Canadian government to intervene diplomatically. He acknowledged not knowing all the details but said the case reflected growing tensions in U.S.-Canada relations.
“The relationship between our two countries is already strained,” Eby said. “This situation makes many Canadians wonder about their relatives working in the U.S.”
Eagles said her daughter’s experience has reinforced her decision to avoid traveling to the U.S. She already had concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration policies, and Mooney’s ordeal has made her even more certain.
