A former American Pie actress has come forward with harrowing details about her experience with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), revealing that she was detained at the border despite not being charged with any crime.
Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian actress and entrepreneur best known for her role in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009), said she was attempting to secure a new visa when she was unexpectedly detained and subjected to what she describes as “inhumane” conditions. Her ordeal has sparked outrage, raising questions about the treatment of individuals in the immigration system.
Detained at the Border Despite Following Legal Advice
Mooney’s trouble began when she discovered that her three-year TN work visa had been revoked last November while trying to board a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Following legal advice, she traveled to the San Ysidro border crossing between Mexico and San Diego, hoping to apply for a new visa with proper documentation and a fresh job offer.
However, things took a turn for the worse. Initially, border officials advised her to visit a U.S. Consulate to apply for legal work status. But when she attempted to re-enter Mexico, she was refused entry. Instead of being granted the opportunity to address the situation, she was detained and transferred to a holding facility.
“I’ve Never Seen Anything So Inhumane”
Speaking from inside the San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona, Mooney described the shocking conditions she endured.
“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 said, expressing disbelief at the way she was treated.
Her initial hours in custody were far from humane, as she was forced to sleep on a mat without a blanket or pillow, relying only on a thin aluminum foil sheet—a standard-issue thermal blanket used in detention centers—to keep warm.
“For two and a half days, I had to sleep on the floor, with nothing but a foil sheet over me,” she recounted.
Transported in Chains Alongside 30 Other Women
Things only got worse when Mooney was suddenly transported to Arizona in the middle of the night, along with dozens of other women.
“We were up for 24 hours, wrapped in chains,” she revealed, describing the grueling journey that she was forced to endure without any explanation.
The conditions she faced behind bars were equally distressing. Mooney criticized the poor quality of food she received, though a spokesperson for the private company operating the detention center, Brian Todd, refuted her claims, insisting that detainees are provided with nutritious meals daily.
Pressure From Authorities Helps Secure Her Release
After 11 days of detention, Mooney was informed that she would be released. While no official reason was given for her sudden freedom, her father believes that political and public pressure played a significant role in securing her release.
“Jasmine’s a strong girl, but what she has gone through… no one should have to go through that,” he said in an emotional statement.
Despite her release, Mooney’s case has reignited debates over ICE’s treatment of detainees, particularly those with no criminal record who are navigating the complex immigration process.
UNILAD has contacted San Luis Regional Detention Center for further comment.