Canadian Business Woman ‘Locked in Chains’ in Shocking ICE Detention

Jasmine Mooney, 35, a Canadian entrepreneur working in Los Angeles, faced a brutal wake-up call. Her attempt to renew her NAFTA professional visa ended in detention and chains at San Ysidro, the bustling U.S.-Mexico border crossing near San Diego.

Mooney’s visa was revoked while she was visiting Vancouver. Stranded and desperate, she returned to the border with fresh visa paperwork and a new job offer. “They told me I was unprofessional because I didn’t have a proper letterhead,” she said. Her words capture the shock and confusion of a system many feel is increasingly hostile.

Immigration lawyer Len Saunders warned her against this risky move. “I don’t think that’s a good idea with this new administration and the political climate,” he recalled. Despite his concerns, Mooney pressed on. Instead of a smooth re-entry, border agents detained her and barred her return to Mexico.

At the Otay Mesa Detention Center, Mooney described harsh conditions. “I was put in a cell with only a mat, no blanket, and an aluminum foil covering me,” she said. For a grueling 24 hours, she was shackled and isolated. This treatment has ignited outrage among immigrant rights advocates.

Brian Todd, a spokesperson for the facility’s management, denied these claims. “Any claim that foil blankets are used is absolutely false,” Todd stated. He added that the center operates under strict ICE standards and regular oversight. Yet Mooney’s account and her subsequent transfer—with 30 other women—to a detention center in San Luis, Arizona, have deepened concerns.

NAFTA professional visas are meant to ease cross-border work for Canadian professionals. But Mooney’s ordeal shows that even these privileged statuses can be overturned by abrupt policy shifts. Critics argue that such incidents expose a broken immigration system that too often sacrifices human dignity for harsh enforcement.

Brittany Kors, a close friend from Vancouver, expressed deep frustration. “We don’t know what the next steps are. We feel helpless,” she said. This sentiment echoes across communities that have long decried inhumane treatment at the border.

This case comes amid growing calls for reform from Democrats and immigrant rights groups. Many argue that the current border policies inflict needless suffering on those simply seeking a better life in the United States. “This is not just about one woman—it reflects a broader crisis in how our country treats people in search of opportunity,” noted one advocate.

The Canadian government is now pushing for more information from U.S. officials. Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Brittany Fletcher commented, “Every country has the right to secure its borders.” However, many in the U.S. believe that securing borders should not come at the expense of basic human rights.

As Jasmine Mooney continues her fight for freedom, her story stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of aggressive immigration policies. ICE has yet to offer further comment, and the full story remains in flux.