Mom says Canadian woman in 'inhumane' U.S. detention, Global Affairs can't intervene

[Castanet News]

Global Affairs says it can't intervene on behalf of a Canadian being held in an Arizona immigration detention centre, where the woman's mother says...

[RyanCEO]

This is absurd Canada should demand her release

[rockinthecreek]

Deeply concerning. The CAD gov needs to step up and get her out asap.

[Rev_Jim]

I would suggest she is a criminal if she was in the country without a valid visa ...

[Nedroj]

Something doesnt add up here. Was she travelling to Mexico from the USA when she was in the USA with a visa that seemed to be expired.

Why wouldnt you travel home if your visa expired? Seems to be the logical course of action to me.

[Babba_not_Gump]

There's more to this story than what Castanet is giving us.

[Jim Dixon]

Something doesnt add up here. Was she travelling to Mexico from the USA when she was in the USA with a visa that seemed to be expired.

Why wouldnt you travel home if your visa expired? Seems to be the logical course of action to me.

No where can I find "expired" visa. The story says, "March 3 after her visa was "denied." It doesn't say why her visa was denied and we shouldn't auto-assume anything because people reading it will unfortunately spread the same misinformation. Mandela Effect kicks in.

Just say'n s'all,
~j

[Jim Dixon]

I would suggest she is a criminal if she was in the country without a valid visa ...

Can you please link me to where it is stated as a fact that the visa was invalid?
Tnx
J

[Allears]

It clearly states in the article she was trying to enter the US from Mexico and her visa was denied.

[lambchopkelowna]

UPDATE: according to information tonight, apparently she is expected to be deported tomorrow. She plead "guilty" to not having the correct paperwork and therefore being in the country "illegally:. That will result in a 5, 10 or lifetime ban to enter the US. The only other option was to wait for 12+ weeks in custody to plead her case to a judge. She chose to be banned from the US and to appeal from Canada rather than spend the next 4 + months in custody waiting for trial (as any Canadian would do).

To that have zero experience or understanding how US Visas work but are claiming that she was obviously a "criminal", here are some basic facts:
1. Her original Visa was revoked because she was no longer working for that company. US work visas are for specific employers. If you no longer work for them, your VISA becomes invalid.
2. She had a new job offer/employer sponsor and renewal application completed.
3. One way to get this processed is to present yourself at the nearest border for processing. This requires leaving hte US, and going to the border crossing. The closest International border to her was Mexico.
4. According to other news articles the border guard thought the visa paperwork was not professional since the job offer was not on letterhead. At this point, border guards have no oversight and each border guard has considerable power to accept or deny paperwork and they do not have to justify it. It is completely up to the whim of the guard and some of them are absolute power-hungry *bleep*.
5. The border guard has the option of denying entry and asking her to fix any errors or rejected documents in the Visa application. They could have done this and she could have contacted her immigration lawyer and proceded with a longer more expensive process, but still no incarceration. It is not illegal to apply for a Visa at the border.
6. This border guard decided, for unknown reasons, to detain her instead of denying her entry. Since she was detained, she has zero rights and zero options until she is able to see a judge. The updated information now indicates that it will be another 1.5 weeks before she may get to see a judge. (apparently this is 12 WEEKS, not 1.5 weeks wait). The judge will either approve her Visa application or deport her at that time. If she is deported, then within an unknown period of time, she will be put on a plane for Canada.
The border guards at this particular crossing have been linked to SEVERAL detentions for BS reasons instead of deporting people and it appears that she may have been targeted because she is Canadian and possibly because she was involved in a hemp (not marijuana) company in the past.
Canadians need to be very careful attending trade shows, exhibiting at trade shows, presenting papers or speaking at conferences in the US. Even if those activities used to be ok and not needing a VISA, it is up to the DISCRETION and OPINION of the US border guard whether they agree or not. Any Canadian under this current climate could easily find themselves detained.

[lambchopkelowna]

I would suggest she is a criminal if she was in the country without a valid visa ...

It is NOT criminal to APPLY for a VISA at the border. She presented herself at the border with her VISA paperwork because she had a job offer/ Employer sponsor. The border guard didn't like her paperwork becuase one item was not on letterhead. He could have denied her entry and allowed her to return to Mexico and gather additional documentation. Instead, the border guard, at his discretion, detained her and now she is incarcerated until she can see a judge which may be another 2 weeks. This could happen to anyone,... arbritrary decision by a power-hungry border guard. Who knows maybe the guard has shares in the private prison company that she was transferred to? After all, detaining people in the US is now a profit enterprise, thus the terrible conditions. ... they make more money if they cut costs.

[Letstalkaboutit]

UPDATE: according to information tonight, apparently she is expected to be deported tomorrow. She plead "guilty" to not having the correct paperwork and therefore being in the country "illegally:. That will result in a 5, 10 or lifetime ban to enter the US. The only other option was to wait for 12+ weeks in custody to plead her case to a judge. She chose to be banned from the US and to appeal from Canada rather than spend the next 4 + months in custody waiting for trial (as any Canadian would do).

To that have zero experience or understanding how US Visas work but are claiming that she was obviously a "criminal", here are some basic facts:
1. Her original Visa was revoked because she was no longer working for that company. US work visas are for specific employers. If you no longer work for them, your VISA becomes invalid.
2. She had a new job offer/employer sponsor and renewal application completed.
3. One way to get this processed is to present yourself at the nearest border for processing. This requires leaving hte US, and going to the border crossing. The closest International border to her was Mexico.
4. According to other news articles the border guard thought the visa paperwork was not professional since the job offer was not on letterhead. At this point, border guards have no oversight and each border guard has considerable power to accept or deny paperwork and they do not have to justify it. It is completely up to the whim of the guard and some of them are absolute power-hungry *bleep*.
5. The border guard has the option of denying entry and asking her to fix any errors or rejected documents in the Visa application. They could have done this and she could have contacted her immigration lawyer and proceded with a longer more expensive process, but still no incarceration. It is not illegal to apply for a Visa at the border.
6. This border guard decided, for unknown reasons, to detain her instead of denying her entry. Since she was detained, she has zero rights and zero options until she is able to see a judge. The updated information now indicates that it will be another 1.5 weeks before she may get to see a judge. (apparently this is 12 WEEKS, not 1.5 weeks wait). The judge will either approve her Visa application or deport her at that time. If she is deported, then within an unknown period of time, she will be put on a plane for Canada.
The border guards at this particular crossing have been linked to SEVERAL detentions for BS reasons instead of deporting people and it appears that she may have been targeted because she is Canadian and possibly because she was involved in a hemp (not marijuana) company in the past.
Canadians need to be very careful attending trade shows, exhibiting at trade shows, presenting papers or speaking at conferences in the US. Even if those activities used to be ok and not needing a VISA, it is up to the DISCRETION and OPINION of the US border guard whether they agree or not. Any Canadian under this current climate could easily find themselves detained.

I know nothing about this case and its unfortunate. What i know firsthand is that the US CBA definitely gets interested if they know you are involved in the legal Canadian Hemp, weed, medical, marijuana industry - even if you are crossing into a state where its legal in US. US Federal law is still against marijuan even though some states are legalized.
I have seen this take a quick turn bad and if you lie or tell half truths.. they can and may bury you at the crossing. I am not saying this lady lied or did anything wrong- this just my experience

[online buy]

Ok now, try and follow Trump bad, Trump is a dictator in the making, that is bad. Trump threatened to make us the 51st state. How do you travel to the US right now and act surprised that *bleep* went sideways? Read a paper and get your elbows up. Privileged times are over people.

[Sicamous_Sue]

I heard/ read on another media sources that this lady had tried to enter the US from Canada with the "visa paper work" and was denied. So, she travel to Mexico and tried to enter from there. This would have sent up so many red flags, it is no wonder she was arrested. Apparently, her lawyer even advised her not do this and she went anyway. Sounds to me like a bit of "self-entitlement syndrome". I have a hard time feel sorry for her.

[skyaura]

This story is incomplete. We still don’t have a statement from the US officials as to what happened. *removed*