I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped : canada

[–] hikuro93@lemmy.ca 86 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Yup. This is the kind of situation most average people will underestimate or believe this is just media doing its usual thing of blowing stuff out of proportion and creating drama for views, until they actually find themselves in a scenario of powerlessness against tyrants who waited their whole lives to have this kind of power.

And I don't mean Trump, specifically. I mean down to the ICE field agent who was always trigger-happy but was constrained by law and its consequences. These people now see there's fewer and fewer guardrails preventing their abuses, and they'll take full advantage of it.

Never underestimate human ambition. Both for good and bad. Appreciate your human rights, but don't take them for granted - the only thing protecting such rights is the fear of the consequences of violating them by bad people.

[–] zephorah@lemm.ee 17 points 4 days ago

I’m not sure ambition is the right descriptor here. It reads more like an old school bully group of kids taking actions that appeal to their social group. Followed by a fist bump or a snide shrug.

Or the new-ish paramedic who intubates for the point, having never done the procedure before, only to have the patient extubated in the ER after they complete the drop off and leave. That’s not quite right as an analogy, but this ICE behavior seems to exist between this and the bully group of school kids performing for one another.

[–] badwetter@kbin.melroy.org 58 points 4 days ago

From the article: “The reality became clear: Ice detention isn’t just a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s a business. These facilities are privately owned and run for profit.”

[–] CircaV@lemmy.ca 52 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Avoid all travel (and stop over) to the US for the foreseeable. I haven’t stepped foot there since before he was first elected.

[–] abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us 14 points 4 days ago

Same here.

[–] TrojanRoomCoffeePot@lemmy.world 34 points 4 days ago

Unfun fact: it was kidnapping, just the legal kind from which civil society and civilians have less and less protection over time.

If any of you have never seen one in person, and want to make yourself uncomfortable, dedicate some time conducting personal research into what detention centers look/are like for detainees/prisoners and how they operate. Often nothing more than indoor dog kennel fencing bolted to concrete floors with 24/7 fluorescent lighting, as little food/water as is legally permitted, denial of the right to legal counsel, and medical personnel specifically instructed to suspect that every single medical issue is nothing more than an excuse to weasel out of confinement. The setup and conditions aren't accidental, don't let their designers, builders, or overseers fool you into believing otherwise, the cruelty is implicit.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 3 days ago

The amount of people who are just figuring out imprisonment is legal kidnapping is staggering.

[–] a9249@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 days ago

First they came for the Communists, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Socialists, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, And there was no one left, To speak out for me…

[+] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one -79 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Oh no! A beautiful white Canadian woman was arrested in Trumpland, please read our article and click the ads.

[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 49 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The article states that she was lucky to get media attention because she's Canadian, a luck others don't have. What exactly are they suppose to do, avoid completely the subject like other media?

[+] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one -52 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Fair point, I'm simply sick of this culture of capitalist grift, because without a doubt she will release a book and rake it in since she's a privileged white woman. If this shit was written about a black Canadian or indigenous person, none of you would give enough of a fuck to read the article.

[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 19 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

If she weren't a reasonably good-looking young white woman, there would likely have been no article at all, and it's true that that's a demonstration of inequality . . . but at least she's using her pre-issued soapbox for something useful this time, and not to promote antivaxxer screeds or dodgy cosmetic treatments. And the articles about her will make even the bigots a little bit more likely to believe that a BIPOC person complaining about similar treatment at the hands of ICE is telling the truth.

I suspect the amount of money made off this—by anyone—is going to be very small unless she brings a successful lawsuit against the US government (unlikely). Like, all takings by everyone involved might buy dinner at a mid-priced restaurant level of money. There isn't enough material here for a book.

[–] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one 3 points 3 days ago

Thank you for helping me understand

[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Dude, I think you're saying this to the wrong people.

[+] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world -44 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

As I understand what happened she had an expired visa, tried to enter the US at the Canada-US border and was denied entry then flew to Mexico and tried to enter the US at the Mexico-US border despite the fact that she still had an expired visa and was denied entry at the Canada-US border. That's a no no and that is why she was arrested. It wasn't random.

EDIT: Downvote this all you want. It makes ZERO difference to whether what I said was true or not.

https://www.usentrywaiverlaw.ca/denied-entry-to-usa.php

Denied Entry to United States

If you have already been refused entry to USA, it is extremely important that you abide by the instructions and do not attempt to return until you are legally allowed to do so. At this point, it is pointless to argue with US Customs and Border Protection about their decision to refuse you entry, and you should instead focus on how you can get pre-approved for re-entry by contacting a US immigration attorney. If you attempt to re-enter the US at another Port of Entry after previously being turned away, not only will you be denied entrance once again but you also risk being banned from the country for an extensive amount of time.

[–] fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net 59 points 4 days ago (2 children)

That’s not what the article says. She had a valid visa, but was denied entry and the visa revoked because they thought it was “shady” that the visa had been approved after an initial denial. Later, after getting a new job in the states, she flew to Mexico to go to the San Diego immigration office to re-apply since that’s where she had applied before.

[+] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world -30 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I wouldn't have taken my now valid visa, flown to Mexico, and tried there. I'd have gone back to the original port of entry where I was denied, gone inside, and presented my now valid visa but that's just me.

[–] fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net 22 points 4 days ago (1 children)

She didn’t have a valid visa, she was trying to get it renewed.

[+] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world -19 points 4 days ago (3 children)

If that is the case then flying to another country to try to enter the US when you have been denied is definitely a FAFO situation.

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Reading your comments man is a fucking rollercoaster. Blaming the victim and then turning around and moving the goal posts.

I mean, God damn. Just add a bit of gaslighting and you could legit become famous. Probably not for good reasons but famous nonetheless.

[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I'm not sure if you've ever tried immigrating between the US and Canada, but it is absolutely valid to apply for visas and work permits at a port of entry. It does not matter which country you arrive from - there is no requirement that you must enter from your home country.

It also does not matter if you've been previously denied. Denial is not a conviction, and the US is happy to take your money for you to apply again. Especially if you have a new job that may change the circumstances.

None of what she did was shady - at all. It's super common. And legal. And the worst thing that should have happened is a denial of entry.

[+] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world -9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

My sister went through the process so I am well aware of what is involved.

The issue is that she tried at one border crossing with an expired visa then flew to another country and tried again. That was her mistake.

[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

In hindsight it was foolish, but not illegal. She should have received a "no" and maybe "we say no because of a previous entry denial." And then she would have turned around and flown back to BC (a few hundred dollars poorer, but not in chains).

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world -2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

https://www.usentrywaiverlaw.ca/denied-entry-to-usa.php

Denied Entry to United States

If you have already been refused entry to USA, it is extremely important that you abide by the instructions and do not attempt to return until you are legally allowed to do so. At this point, it is pointless to argue with US Customs and Border Protection about their decision to refuse you entry, and you should instead focus on how you can get pre-approved for re-entry by contacting a US immigration attorney. If you attempt to re-enter the US at another Port of Entry after previously being turned away, not only will you be denied entrance once again but you also risk being banned from the country for an extensive amount of time.

I suspect that the fact that she was at a land border crossing played into what happened. They couldn't just put her on a plane and fly her back. They had to move her to where they could put her on a plane so she was put into the meat grinder with everyone else being deported.

[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

You've linked some sage advice. I've found immigration to be a crapshoot - mostly depending on how the immigration officer was feeling that day.

Rereading the article (admittedly from her side of things), the revocation of her visa seems unfair. But ultimately that's for the immigration officer to decide.

However, if she was using a land entry, it means she had to "flagpole" - leave the US for Mexico and return. Canadians don't need to apply for a visa to visit Mexico (nor the US, only to work). So why wasn't she given the option to head to the Tijuana airport on her own dime?

It just feels like someone wanted to be unnecessarily cruel. According to this woman's story, the officer mentioned her work with hemp products. Maybe the guy had some personal anger problems.

edit: I'm upvoting you, btw. Here to learn and share. Not sure who's downvoting you.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I thought she flagpoled in Canada, was denied, then tried to overfly the US to Mexico and enter from there. That would raise red flags for me if I was CBP. Once you're denied entry doing anything other than getting that denial cleared up before going back to the border is silly.

I think that how they treated her was unfair (as is the way that they treat everyone in that situation) but I think she got herself in that situation. The two are not mutually exclusive.

[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The details in this Guardian article are not clear at all.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/canadian-detained-us-border-1.7483021

This CBC article seems to confirm what you're saying (according to statements from the woman's mother). I totally agree with you about the red flags and poor decisions of this woman. And it seems like we're in agreement on disliking what happened after.

Thanks for chatting it out!

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Thank you.

Have a good day.

[–] marathon01@lemmy.ml -2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I've done so many times, and in today's political climate, if one is informed, it's not a stretch that they will look for any excuse. Don't be so naive.

[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If by "today's political climate," you mean the sudden and illegal actions the president of the USA has ordered and USA's ICE has carried out, then I don't disagree with you. I wouldn't have done what she did. But I also don't blame her for being detained. We have to admit that this is lunacy! And I'm glad that she has been vocal, so people can understand that this isn't just a crackdown on illegal crossings.

[–] badwetter@kbin.melroy.org -2 points 4 days ago (2 children)

@no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world

Agreed! But what, we think, doesn't matter. I still stand by my comment that she was being disingenuous and regardless of what port of entry you apply at, there will be questions about your travel trail and other deets. The officers have a great deal of discretion, so one officer may differ from another as to whom they let through.

@MapleEngineer@lemmy.world @fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net @marathon01@lemmy.ml

[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Yes I definitely agree here. I appreciate you taking the time. I don't disagree with her denial, it's the detention that drives me nuts.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

I think that the issue was that she was at a land border crossing. They couldn't just put her on a plane and send her home. They put her into the system and it took them two weeks to deport her.

[–] badwetter@kbin.melroy.org -2 points 4 days ago

@MapleEngineer@lemmy.world

Absolutely!

[+] badwetter@kbin.melroy.org -29 points 4 days ago (2 children)

@fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net

That was disingenuous of her, and it raised all sorts of flags. Justify it all you want, but she tried to game her entry, that part is obvious. Why wouldn't you re-apply at the same place you were refused? Come on, put your thinking cap on …

@MapleEngineer@lemmy.world

[–] fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net 21 points 4 days ago (1 children)

In the article she explains her lawyer was in San Diego.

[–] abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us 14 points 4 days ago

The other part is that the article mentions that she shouldn't have applied for the visa at either spot on the border but at the consulate,

The officer I spoke to was kind but told me that, due to my previous issues, I needed to apply for my visa through the consulate. I told her I hadn’t been aware I needed to apply that way, but had no problem doing it.

So reapplying from where she got refused is still the wrong advice.

[–] NarrativeBear@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

It does not appear she was doing anything illegal or fishy like you pointed out. She was just getting her work visa renewed at the San Ysidro Port of Entry along the mexico boarder, which she has done successfully before in the past. You do this by crossing into mexico and then crossing back.

Mooney moved to Los Angeles in summer 2024, working on her business with a three-year work visa, which she applied for successfully by entering the U.S. from Mexico. She was trying to do the same thing after her first visa was unexpectedly revoked in November.

Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer based in Blaine, Wash., told Global News that he is not Mooney’s lawyer but he did speak to her a few weeks ago after being referred by a fellow client.

He said he is familiar with the San Ysidro Port of Entry and has referred clients who are in that area to cross into Mexico and then come back in order to get their visas renewed.

“When she told me she was going there, I advised her not to, only because of the current political climate,” he said.

Saunders said Mooney told him she had been to that border crossing before and everything was fine and she was confident about getting the visa.

TBH, what what Canadians need to be talking about is why a Canadian citizen was detained for the extended amount of time she was. This should not have happened at all period. No matter what the circumstances.

[+] Kaboom@reddthat.com -46 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That's what being arrested means

[–] Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

She was detained, not arrested.

If she has been arrested she would have had more rights.

I'm sure you have plenty of experience with the later but none with the former.

Canada

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