Canadian actress ‘American Pie’ detained by ICE, ‘held in chains for hours’

A Canadian actor and entrepreneur said that it has been retained by the application of immigration and customs of the United States (ICE) For more than 10 days after she tried to enter the country with a new visa application.

Jasmine Mooney, who appeared in the American cake The film franchise said she was arrested and had to sleep in a mat at the San Luis detention center in Arizona after her arrest while trying to cross the border of the United States-Mexico while trying to renew her documentation.

An ICE spokesman said Newsweek That people who break the immigration law will be arrested, regardless of nationality. The Canadian government said Newsweek that It cannot intervene in the name of Canadian citizens in the immigration regulations of other countries.

Why does it matter

The conditions highlighted by Mooney occur when ice detention facilities throughout the country have approved the capacity in the middle of the Trump administration efforts to detain as many illegal immigrants as possible. The cases of those without criminal records that are also arrested have become more common in recent weeks.

What to know

Speaking to the KGTV news station of the Arizona detention center, Mooney said it was first arrested by customs and border protection of the United States (CBP) last Monday on the border near San Diego.

The former actress turned into an entrepreneur of British Columbia obtained a three -year work visa for the United States last spring and lived and worked in Los Angeles, her mother told CBC. However, after going home for a visit in November, Mooney discovered that his visa had been revoked when he tried to return to the United States.

Mooney said he had returned to the border in Mexico with a new job offer and his visa paperwork, but as she had already been marked, CBP officers did not allow him to return to Mexico. She was stopped in her place.

“They put me in a cell and I had to sleep in a mat without a blanket, without a pillow, with an aluminum sheet wrapped on my body like a corpse for two and a half days,” KGTV said, and added that she and another 30 women were transferred to ice custody. “We were awake for 24 hours wrapped in chains.”

Mooney’s father told the Canadian media that he had little or no contact with his daughter from his arrest, but can be released on Friday. He added that the women with whom her daughter was arrested had asked her to send messages to her loved ones once they released her.

This case occurs amid high tensions between the United States and Canada on the president Donald TrumpThe statement that Canada and Mexico have not done enough to reduce the flow of fentanyl across the border, resulting in a round trip rate.

ICE has also been accused to be indiscriminate in Who their officers stop In recent weeks, despite the promise of the Trump administration to persecute illegal immigrant criminals first.

What people say

Stephen Mooney, Jasmine’s father, told Yukon News: “We, through lawyers, ask him to sign this exemption that said he declares himself guilty of some kind, and they should automatically deport it, and that is what we expect, but she gives the paperwork, and this happened days ago, the guards, and has no idea what they do with him.”

An ICE spokesman said Newsweek: “Jasmine Mooney was arrested on March 3 by the application of immigration and customs of the United States for not having legal documentation to be in the United States. Mooney was processed in accordance with the executive order of” ensuring our borders “dated January 21. All aliens in violation of the United States immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if it is removable by the final order The removal of the United States, the consideration of nationality. ” “

A spokesman for Canada’s global affairs said Newsweek In a statement: “Global Affairs Canada is aware of the arrest of a Canadian citizen in Arizona. Consular officials are in contact with local authorities to collect additional information and provide consular assistance. Due to privacy considerations, no more information can be disclosed.”

British Columbia Prime Minister David Eby told journalists on Thursday: “The nature of our relationship is so tense at this time that this case makes us all ask us, you know, what about our relatives who work in the United States? What happens when we cross the border, what kind of experience will we have?”

What happens later

Mooney has now spent time in the detention centers of Otay Mesa and San Luis, but had to be released on Friday, according to his father. It is expected to be transferred to Mexico before returning to Canada.