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!

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.