American Pie Actress Detained by U.S. Immigration for Visa Issues

A Canadian woman who previously appeared in the film "American Pie Presents: The Book of Love" was detained by U.S. immigration officials while attempting to renew her work visa at the border crossing between Mexico and the United States.

Jasmine Mooney, a 35-year-old business consultant from Vancouver, British Columbia, was held for six nights at detention centers in Southern California and Arizona after her application for a TN visa was denied. Her mother, Alexis Eagles, shared details of the ordeal on Facebook, expressing concern about her daughter's treatment.

Detention at the San Ysidro Border Crossing

Mooney was attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the United States on March 3, armed with her visa paperwork and a job offer from a U.S.-based company. She sought to renew her TN visa, a nonimmigrant visa that permits Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the U.S. in specific professional roles under the North American free trade agreement known as USMCA.

According to Eagles, Mooney's visa was immediately denied upon arrival at the San Ysidro border crossing in Southern California. She was then held for three nights at the border crossing before being transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, where she spent another three nights.

Transfer to Arizona and Unfavorable Conditions

On Sunday, an online detainee locator system indicated that Mooney had been released, but her family remained without communication from her for 24 hours. Their anxiety escalated when they learned that about 30 individuals, including Mooney, were forcibly removed from their cells at 3:00 am and transferred to San Luis Detention Center in Arizona.

Eagles described the conditions at the Arizona detention center as deplorable, stating that detainees are housed in a single concrete cell with no natural light, constant fluorescent lighting, no mats or blankets, and limited bathroom facilities.

Mooney's Account of Detainment

Mooney recounted her experience to CTV News from the Arizona detention facility, expressing feelings of being kidnapped. She stated that she was informed of her visa denial without any warning and subsequently detained while in the process of booking a flight back to Canada.

"Without any warning about what was about to transpire, I was literally just taken," Mooney told CTV News. "I feel like I've been kidnapped."

ICE's Explanation and Expected Release

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed San Diego station KGTV that Mooney was detained for lacking legal documentation to be in the country. An ICE spokeswoman emphasized that all individuals in violation of U.S. immigration law may face arrest, detention, and potential removal from the U.S., regardless of their nationality.

Mooney's father, Stephen Mooney, expressed confidence that his daughter would soon be released. He anticipates her being transferred to a detention center in Tijuana, Mexico, followed by a flight back to Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday evening.

Family's Concerns and Government Response

Mooney's mother has purchased a plane ticket for her daughter and is awaiting ICE's approval. She remains cautiously optimistic about Mooney's return within the next couple of days. However, Eagles expressed deep concern over her daughter's living conditions in detention, criticizing ICE's treatment as inhumane.

Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Dina Destin confirmed that Canadian consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather information and provide assistance to Mooney. She emphasized that each country determines its own border entry and exit requirements, and the Canadian government cannot intervene in another country's immigration matters.