this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2025

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I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 months ago by badwetter@kbin.melroy.org to c/canada@lemmy.ca

43 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky

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[–] no_im_doesnt@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago (1 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 3 months 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 3 months 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 months 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 months ago* (last edited 3 months 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 months 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 months 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 months ago

Thank you.

Have a good day.