On March 3, 2025, actress Jasmine Mooney found herself embroiled in legal issues upon attempting to return to her residence in Vancouver. During an interview with ABC 10News San Diego on March 13, she shared that authorities detained her after realizing her work visa had expired.
Mooney recounted her distressing experience in the detention center, criticizing the quality of food and conditions:
“I was put in a cell, and I had to sleep on a mat with no blanket, no pillow, with an aluminum foil wrapped over my body like a dead body for two and a half days…We were up for 24 hours wrapped in chains.”
Jasmine Mooney has built a remarkable career as an actress, recognized for her role as Jackie in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, among other film credits, including Badge of Honor and 37 Teen, according to IMDb. Currently residing in Los Angeles, she has also made her mark as a co-founder of a health tonic beverage company. Her immigration troubles intensified last November when she was prohibited from boarding a flight to Vancouver due to visa complications. At that time, she was advised to visit a U.S. consulate to reapply for her work visa, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Following this guidance, Jasmine expected to renew her visa at the San Ysidro border checkpoint—where she had previously secured her visa—accompanied by a new job offer and all required documentation. However, she encountered obstacles when detained by Customs and Border Patrol. Agents insisted she must consult the U.S. consulate for a new visa, leading to her transport to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego by ICE agents, as detailed by the Daily Beast.
As of March 13, 2025, Jasmine remains at a detention facility in Arizona without any formal charges against her. During her visit to San Ysidro, she noted the confusion of the guards, who expressed disbelief at her predicament:
“Every single guard that sees me is like ‘What are you doing here? I don’t understand – you’re Canadian. How are you here?'”
Concerns Raised by Jasmine Mooney’s Mother on Detention Conditions
In light of these events, Jasmine’s mother, Alexis Eagles, spoke to City News Everywhere on March 13, expressing concern over her daughter’s treatment in various detention centers. Alexis revealed that Jasmine endured three nights in San Diego before being moved to another facility.
Initially, Alexis believed her daughter had been released on March 9, based on online tracking, but soon learned she had not been able to communicate with Jasmine for around 24 hours. In a distressing revelation, Alexis stated:
“We eventually learned that about 30 people, including Jasmine, were forcibly removed from their cells at 3:00 am and transferred to the San Luis Detention Center in Arizona. They are housed together in a single concrete cell with no natural light, fluorescent lights that are never turned off, no mats, no blankets, and limited bathroom facilities.”
In a post on Facebook, Alexis mentioned that the family has relied on updates from Jasmine’s friends in the U.S. for information regarding her wellbeing. Brittany Kors, a friend of Jasmine, is actively working on her release.
Additionally, Alexis criticized ICE for the treatment of detainees, describing conditions as “inhumane and deeply concerning.”As of now, ICE has not issued a response to the allegations raised by either Jasmine Mooney or her mother, leaving the public awaiting further updates on Jasmine’s situation.