I’m not trying to be pedantic, but according to the article she tried to enter Canada without the correct visa. She was refused entry to Canada and turned back at the border where she was detained trying to reenter the US.
Look, I’m not travelling to the US right now unless I have to for reasons of economic protest. By the same token, I’m not pursuing travel to China or Hong Kong as we’ve seen how they treat Canadians. But the reality is that many tens of thousands of Canadians travel to the US each and every day.
Yes but all this demonstrates is that in the current fervent atmosphere, what can and should be a minor mixup gets turned into a horror show. It matters not that a mixup is involved - mixups happen. Mis-speak about what you were doing in the US and what should be resolved by a five minute conversation turns into a couple of weeks in handcuffs and jail because Trump.
And yes, tens of thousands of Canadians travel to the US every day. The odds are long. But knock a few zeroes off the odds if you are dark skinned and have an Arabic sounding name, and suddenly it’s worth serious thought.
But why waste US tax dollars on detaining her for weeks, rather than just handing her over to Canadian authorities? The detention thing is just ridiculous.
Again, what do you want from me? Seriously. I simply said that most Dopers are well informed. And do you know what, I also believe that the per capita, you are probably better informed than the population at large.
Because she had no right to enter Canada. Under Canadian law, she needed a work visa to perform services in exchange for payment in kind.
When she was refused entry to Canada, she said that she would get on a plane to go home to Britain. Simple.
But ICE decided they needed to detain her instead. Which makes no sense. If there is a problem with someone in your country, and that person says “OK, I’ll leave”, there’s no need to detain her. Just excort her to the airport.
There was also a Canadian who tried to enter with a work visa. US authorities decided her work visa was not valid. Okay, then turn her away at the border. Instead, they took her into custody and kept her incommunicado for a couple of weeks.
To send a message. Foreign undesirables are not welcome to visit the U.S.
Did you read the travel advisory by the Canadian Association of University Professors?
Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encountering difficulties crossing the border, CAUT strongly recommends that academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary.
In addition, CAUT recommends that academics who fall into the following categories exercise particular caution:
Citizens or residents of a country identified in media reports as likely to be subject to a travel ban
Citizens or residents of a country where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S.
Travellers with passport stamps evidencing recent travel to countries that may be subject to a travel ban or where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S.
Those who have expressed negative opinions about the current U.S. administration or its policies
Those whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration
Travellers who are transgender or whose travel documents indicate a sex other than their sex assigned at birth
Academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing borders and take actions to protect sensitive information where necessary.
Sad but true. Canada admitted large numbers of Syrian refugees in recent years. It’s likely that she’s one of them, and if so, would have permanent residency status but probably not citizenship yet. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have canceled their trips to the US so far this year, and if I were advising your friend, I’d strongly suggest that she do the same. While the risk to her is low, it’s much higher than average. Also, as a non-citizen, her recourse to intervention by the Government of Canada is more limited.
And on top of that, people self select for their chosen work. Prison guards, border patrol officers etc are disproportionately people who want to exercise cruelty and petty power. Trump has very clearly sent these people a message that they are off the leash.
This, and a few of your subsequent posts, are badgering the OP over an awkward turn of phrase. The vast majority of everyone (including dopers) are not well informed on most subjects. I think you are blowing up their meaning far beyond what was intended, and the point isn’t even relevant to the thread.