Canadian Entrepreneur Detained After Attempting U.S. Visa Application

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A Canadian entrepreneur is speaking out after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last Monday while attempting to enter the United States at the San Ysidro border to obtain a visa. Jasmine Mooney, co-founder of the Holy! Water brand, recounted her ordeal from a detention center in Arizona.

Mooney, who previously held a TN visa, stated she was shocked by her treatment during the process. “Every single guard that sees me is like ‘What are you doing here? I don’t understand – you’re Canadian. How are you here?’” she told Team 10 in an interview.

Her initial visa was revoked by a U.S. border officer while she was visiting Canada. “They told me I was unprofessional because I didn’t have a proper letterhead on my paperwork,” Mooney explained. Following the revocation, she was advised to apply for legal status at a U.S. consulate.

Mooney stated that upon arriving at the San Ysidro crossing with new job offer paperwork, a border officer denied her entry and ordered her detention, citing her prior visa issues. The specific reasons for Mooney’s detention remain unclear, as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declined to disclose details due to privacy restrictions. A representative stated that they deny entry for various grounds, treating all travelers with respect.

Conditions in the Otay Mesa Detention Center raised significant concerns for Mooney. “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. Mooney also criticized the quality of food provided, and shared her harrowing journey to an Arizona facility where she was transferred with 30 other women while chained.

CoreCivic, the private company managing the Otay Mesa facility, defended its food services, claiming to provide three “nutritious” meals a day, overseen by a registered dietitian, according to spokesperson Brian Todd.

“I just feel like there has to be more that they can do this. This can’t be right. It can’t be allowed to happen,” said Brittany Kors, Mooney’s best friend, who is advocating for her release. Kors expressed frustration at the situation and has been contacting immigration attorneys while rallying support from Canada.

Local immigration attorney Andrew Neitor commented on the increasing detentions of non-U.S. citizens, noting that many cases leading to detention would have previously been resolved without such measures. “CBP and ICE have many other options at their disposal; they do not need to detain people,” he said.

As of now, Mooney’s release date remains unknown. The Canadian government is aware of her situation and is working to gather more information, although a spokesperson stated that they cannot interfere with the border requirements of another country.

Investigative Reporter Austin Grabish can be reached at [contact information].