Canadian Entrepreneur Detained at San Ysidro Border Speaks Out

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian entrepreneur, publicly addressed her detention by ICE following her attempt to enter the U.S. at the San Ysidro border crossing last Monday.

Mooney is currently fighting to be released from an Arizona immigration detention center, where she described the conditions as appalling. “I have never in my life seen anything so inhumane,” she told Investigative Reporter Austin Grabish during an interview.

A co-founder of the Holy! Water brand, Mooney initially entered the U.S. on a TN visa to work in Los Angeles, which was later revoked. Seeking to return for a job opportunity, she brought new visa paperwork to the border. Mooney received her first visa at San Ysidro based on the advice of a Los Angeles attorney.

Complications arose when a U.S. border officer at the Vancouver airport revoked her visa during a recent visit home, citing a lack of proper letterhead on her paperwork. After her visa was revoked, a border officer instructed Mooney to apply for legal status at a U.S. consulate, but refused to let her return to Mexico and instead ordered her detention, she said.

Mooney speculated that authorities might have questioned her previous employment, noting that one of Holy! Water’s products contains Delta-9 “full spectrum hemp.” The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp within a specific THC limit, but Mooney’s situation highlights potential conflicts with federal law.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not provide specific reasons for Mooney’s detention but noted that they routinely deny entry to travelers for various reasons, adhering to principles of respect and professionalism. Mooney, however, contended that her treatment contradicted that claim, recounting being placed in a cold room and later moved to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

“I was put in a cell, and I had to sleep on a mat with no blanket, no pillow, with aluminum foil wrapped over my body like a dead body for two and a half days,” she recalled.

Regarding food conditions, Mooney expressed dissatisfaction, stating she was transferred with a group of women after a long period of confinement. CoreCivic, the private company managing the Otay Mesa Detention Center, insists that it provides adequate nutrition, with meals reviewed by a registered dietitian.

Mooney’s current housing situation in Arizona remains uncertain, and she conveyed her frustration over the process. Her best friend, Brittany Kors, is actively seeking assistance from the Canadian government to intervene.

Kors expressed her concern, stating, “This can’t be right. It can’t be allowed to happen,” and has been rallying support for Mooney. She noted the unexpected complexities of immigration processes for Canadian citizens.

San Diego immigration attorney Andrew Neitor identified a rising trend in detaining non-U.S. citizens for reasons that might not have justified detention in the past. “Many of the detentions are for reasons that up until a couple of months ago would not have resulted in a person’s detention,” said Neitor.

On Tuesday, Team 10 requested a comment from ICE regarding Mooney’s case, but as of Wednesday afternoon, the agency had not responded. Meanwhile, Global Affairs Canada confirmed awareness of the situation and is working to gather additional information.

“Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on behalf of Canadian citizens with regard to the entry and exit requirements of another country,” said Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Brittany Fletcher.