American Pie star speaks out after being detained by ICE and ‘wrapped in chains’ while applying for visa

An actress has spoken out about her traumatic ordeal when she was detained by ICE and ‘wrapped in chains’ when simply applying for a visa.

Jasmine Mooney, known for her role in the US cult classic movieAmerican Pie Presents: The Book of Love, in 2009, said she was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the US-Mexico border, despite not being charged with a crime.

The 35-year-old Canadian actress said immigration officials detained her for 12 days at the southern border of San Ysidro, between Mexico and San Diego, where she was transported three times, felt like she had been ‘kidnapped’ and struggled to sleep – all because she had tried to apply for a new visa on March 3.

Jasmine spent 12 days in detention (Instagram/jasminemooney)Jasmine spent 12 days in detention (Instagram/jasminemooney)

Jasmine spent 12 days in detention (Instagram/jasminemooney)

Jasmine finally touched down on home soil in Vancouver just after midnight on Saturday (March 15), and has now spoken out about the extent of her traumatic ordeal that she ‘never in a million years’ thought would happen.

Speaking to CTV News at the airport, she said: “I’m still, to be honest, really processing everything.

“I haven’t slept in a while and haven’t eaten proper food in a while, so I’m just really going through the motions.”

Jasmine said she’s still kept in the dark about why she was put behind bars in the first place, even after being transported from Arizona to San Diego and then on to her homeward bound flight.

“No one told me anything. Not once,” she said. “I still don’t even know how I’m home.

“My friends and my family and the media are the reason, I think, that I’m home.”

The Canadian woman said she's still 'processing' what happened (CTV News)The Canadian woman said she's still 'processing' what happened (CTV News)

The Canadian woman said she’s still ‘processing’ what happened (CTV News)

She added: “I do not wish it upon anyone. No one deserves to go through what I witnessed.”

Jasmine previously revealed she learned in November last year that her three-year TN work visa has been revoked as she was attempting to fly from Vancouver to Los Angeles.

She travelled to the border crossing based on legal advice to obtain another visa at San Ysidro with her visa paperwork and new job offer in hand.

Speaking from the San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona, she told KGTV at the time that immigration officials in the center were confused at her being kept there.

“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 also criticized the conditions she was kept in, adding: “I have never in my life seen anything so inhumane.”

“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.”

The American Pie actress has since been released (CTV News)The American Pie actress has since been released (CTV News)

The American Pie actress has since been released (CTV News)

She also claimed she was ‘wrapped in chains’ and up for 24 hours alongside 30 other women during her deportation to Arizona.

Jasmine, co-founder of the health-focused drink brand Holy! Water, told reporters she had ‘no idea’ if President Donald Trump‘s aggressive immigration policies are behind her detention.

“I don’t want to point fingers at anything,” she said. “I really don’t know. But, obviously, people can speculate what they want.”

Jasmine also said she met other women who were held for significantly longer periods of time in the detention facilities.

“When I got to know everyone else in there, and heard all of their stories and how long they were in there, I was like, ‘OK, I’m not allowed to feel sorry for myself at all, because every single person in here is in a way worse situation than me,’” Jasmine said.

 American Pie star detained by ICE and 'wrapped in chains' while attempting to apply for visa American Pie star detained by ICE and 'wrapped in chains' while attempting to apply for visa

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American Pie star detained by ICE and ‘wrapped in chains’ while attempting to apply for visa

The actress said she had never seen anything so ‘inhumane’

A former American Pie actress has spoken of her grueling experience after being detained by ICE while she was in the process of applying for her visa.

Canadian actress and entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney, who featured in the American Pie Presents: The Book of Love film back in 2009, has spoken out at being detained despite not being charged with commiting a crime.

She said she was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the southern border while trying to obtain a new visa.

She was picked up at the San Ysidro border between Mexico and San Diego on March 3. She had traveled to the border crossing earlier this month after learning in November last year that her three-year TN work visa had been revoked as she was trying to catch a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles.

From advice from her lawyer she tried to get another visa at San Ysidro, where she had obtained her first work visa, with a new job offer and her visa paperwork in hand.

Jasmine Mooney said she has never seen anything so 'inhumane' (Instagram/jasminemooney)Jasmine Mooney said she has never seen anything so 'inhumane' (Instagram/jasminemooney)

Jasmine Mooney said she has never seen anything so ‘inhumane’ (Instagram/jasminemooney)

Speaking to KGTV, Mooney said she entered the country through Mexico, where border agents initially advised her to visit a US Consulate to apply for legal status to work in the country again. She was then refused re-entry to Mexico and detained.

Speaking to the outlet from inside the San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona, she said: “Every single guard that sees me is like ‘What are you doing here? I don’t understand — you’re Canadian. How are you here?’

“I have never in my life seen anything so inhumane.”

As well as this, Mooney said the conditions at which she was kept were far from ideal.

She added: “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.”

Jasmine's father said the political pressure has helped ensure his daughter's release(David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)Jasmine's father said the political pressure has helped ensure his daughter's release(David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Jasmine’s father said the political pressure has helped ensure his daughter’s release(David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

She also complained the quality of food she has been given since being detained, however a spokesperson for the private company has denounced her comments.

Spokesperson for the private company that owns the detention center, Brian Todd, said the facility provides ‘nutritious’ meals daily to inmates.

She also said she was shipped, alongside 30 other women, in the middle of the night to Arizona.

She added: “We were up for 24 hours wrapped in chains.”

However, Mooney has not been charged with a crime and is expected to be released today (March 14) after 11 days behind bars.

Mooney’s father also spoke about his daughter’s detainment and believes the pressure put on authorities is part of the reason she is being released.

Speaking to CBS he said: “Jasmine’s a strong girl, but what she has gone through is … no one should do that.”

 People point out Donald Trump's 'absurd and embarrassing' comment about Denmark while discussing Greenland rightsPeople point out Donald Trump's 'absurd and embarrassing' comment about Denmark while discussing Greenland rights

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People point out Donald Trump’s ‘absurd and embarrassing’ comment about Denmark while discussing Greenland rights

The POTUS has long indicated he wants to acquire Greenland

President Donald Trump has been accused of making an ‘absurd and embarrassing’ comment about Denmark while hinting at his intention to acquire Greenland.

The POTUS has been long toying with the idea of merging Canada into the US as its 51st State, and hinted that another territory still sits firmly on his list.

During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office on Thursday (March 13), Trump stated he would like to see Greenland become a part of the US for security reasons, after having made similar comments during his first term in 2019.

He said: “Well, I think it’ll happen. And I’m just thinking I didn’t give it much thought before, but I’m sitting with a man that could be very instrumental.

“You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security – international.”

NATO Secretary General Rutte appeared hesitant on the Greenland plan (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)NATO Secretary General Rutte appeared hesitant on the Greenland plan (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

NATO Secretary General Rutte appeared hesitant on the Greenland plan (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“That whole area is becoming very important,” he continued, “and for a lot of reasons.”

“The routes are very direct to Asia, to Russia, and you have ships all over the place and we have to have protection, so we’re gong to have to make a deal on that.”

While Rutte shrugged the suggestion off, saying: “I don’t want to drag NATO into that,” the President also appeared to make a somewhat embarrassing blunder over the island’s complex history.

While geographically it sits closer to Canada than Europe, the semi-autonomous territory is politically and culturally governed by the Kingdom of Denmark.

However, Trump seemed unaware of this fact when speaking about its potential annexation and his comments about Denmark’s rights to the territory that hit a nerve.

Greenland has a complicated history but sits in an ideal position (Getty Images)Greenland has a complicated history but sits in an ideal position (Getty Images)

Greenland has a complicated history but sits in an ideal position (Getty Images)

“Denmark’s very far away,” Trump continued, “and really has nothing to do – what, a boat landed there 200 years ago or something and they say they have rights to it?

“I don’t know if that’s true. I don’t think it is actually.”

Reacting to the shocking statement, viewers raced to Twitter to call Trump’s Greenland claims ‘absurd and embarrassing.’

“Donald Trump says he doesn’t think Denmark has rights to Greenland. They do. Donald Trump is a global embarrassment,” wrote another.

The US has long wanted Greenland for national security reasons (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)The US has long wanted Greenland for national security reasons (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The US has long wanted Greenland for national security reasons (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

According to History Extra, the question of who owns the world’s largest island spans the ages, but the territory was formally incorporated into the Danish Kingdom as of 1953.

Since then, it gained home rule in 1979 and continues to enhance its autonomy and independence of the sovereign state, having passed several laws for the benefit of its own self-governance.

It has also been of major interest to the US since the Second World War due to its strategic position in the North Atlantic, which not only proved vital but highlighted the land’s significance towards maintaining worldwide peace and security.

It once again became instrumental in the Cold War when the US leased the land from Denmark to build an air base in a strike back against the Soviet threat.

US forces still have a military base on Greenland with a bilateral defense partnership still in good stead between the NATO allies.

Trump has given several conflicting statements about Greenland joining the US for good, saying in January that he would not rule out full military intervention or, perhaps his favorite method, ramp up tariffs against Denmark to bend to the demand.

But then he told the people of Greenland in a Congress address: “If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.”

 Canadian Premier shares message to Americans after warning he will shut off power to 1,500,000 customersCanadian Premier shares message to Americans after warning he will shut off power to 1,500,000 customers

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Canadian Premier shares message to Americans after warning he will shut off power to 1,500,000 customers

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has clarified where the real ‘problem’ lies

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has doubled down on his warning about ‘cutting off’ the US’ energy but also apologized ‘to the American people’.

US president Donald Trump wasted no time signing off on multiple executive orders after being sworn in as the 47th president of the US.

One order included imposing ‘catastrophic’ tariffs to ‘hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the US‘ by placing 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, and 20 percent on China – the order having come into effect after a 30-day pause on March 4.

With Trump suggesting the only solution for Canada to avoid the tariffs being it becoming the US’ ‘Cherished 51st state,’ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by revealing counter-tariffs of ’25 percent tariffs against CA $155 billion of American goods’ beginning with ‘tariffs on CA $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining CA $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time’.

Trudeau also warned Canada is ‘in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures’.

Since then, Premier of Ontario, Canada, Doug Ford threatened to shut off the power to 1.5 million US customers.

Ford previously told reporters, as quoted by the Toronto Sun: “If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face.

“They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.”

He’s since taken a slightly more sympathetic approach – to the US public at least – apologizing to ‘the American people’ and clarifying it’s ‘unnecessary’ but Canada does ‘have to retaliate,’ emphasizing to CNN: “It’s not you; it’s your president that’s causing this problem.”

Doug Ford has emphasized it's Trump who's the 'problem' (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Doug Ford has emphasized it's Trump who's the 'problem' (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Doug Ford has emphasized it’s Trump who’s the ‘problem’ (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

He said: “We’re the number one customer in the world in the United States, we had a great relationship, and want to continue on with that relationship, but I will use every tool in our toolbox to send a message to President Trump that this is the wrong thing to do.

“The provinces have a big say in it, but it’s the federal government that’s leading the charge, and we’re going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder no matter who’s in the federal government.

“I didn’t start this tariff war, but we’re going to win this tariff war.”

Ford has also ripped up the province’s contract with Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink – a subsidiary of SpaceX – accusing Trump of choosing ‘chaos’ over shared prosperity.

Trump - you've been warned (Carl Court - Pool/Getty Images) Trump - you've been warned (Carl Court - Pool/Getty Images)

Trump – you’ve been warned (Carl Court – Pool/Getty Images)

He argued: “We won’t award contracts to people who enable and encourage economic attacks on our province and our country.”

 Canadian Premier reveals how long he intends to shut power off to 1,500,000 customers in AmericaCanadian Premier reveals how long he intends to shut power off to 1,500,000 customers in America

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Canadian Premier reveals how long he intends to shut power off to 1,500,000 customers in America

Doug Ford has set the record straight when it comes to how long the power will be shut off for

A Canadian Premier has revealed how long he intends to cut off the power to 1.5 million US customers amid Donald Trump’s controversial tariffs.

The 47th POTUS has signed off on numerous orders since returning to the White House in January, including imposing ‘catastrophic’ tariffs to ‘hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the US’.

In the case of Canada, Trump explained how the only ‘solution’ for the country to avoid the tariff is to become the US’ ‘cherished 51st State’.

Donald Trump has introduced a ton of tariffs since returning to office (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Donald Trump has introduced a ton of tariffs since returning to office (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Donald Trump has introduced a ton of tariffs since returning to office (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement released on Monday (March 3): “Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 per cent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who won a third majority last week, said during a news conference he would be shutting off power to 1.5 million customers in the US as a direct response to the tariffs.

Ford has said he intends to turn the power off until the tariffs are lifted by the Trump Administration.

“We hold our line and then we counter-tariff; tariff-for-tariff, dollar-for-dollar,” he told Bill Carroll on Newstalk 580 CFRA’s The Morning Rush.

“They want to tariff us for 10 per cent or 15, then they’re getting a tariff. These tariffs do not work. All they do is hurt people in both countries and put uncertainly into the market. We want zero tariffs; we don’t want half the amount of tariffs.”

Ford added: “I think they underestimated the strength and the will of the Canadian people. We’ve hit back extremely hard; they underestimated us, and I just don’t believe in any tariffs whatsoever.

Doug Ford is taking drastic action (NBC)Doug Ford is taking drastic action (NBC)

Doug Ford is taking drastic action (NBC)

“When you see the market tank by $3 trillion, and there’s chaos happening, and assembly will shut down in both companies and plants will close down.”

As per a press release from the White House, the tariffs are part of Trump ‘taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country’.

The order states: “There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans.

“Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years.”

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