British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

Visa status, Canada’s role, and missing details

• Several commenters note the article is vague about why Canada refused her entry and what exact US status she had (ESTA vs B‑2 tourist visa).
• Canada reportedly told her she needed a work visa because she planned to do chores for room and board via Workaway; Canada then sent her back to the US.
• Some think she may also have been close to, or over, the 90‑day Visa Waiver limit (which includes time in “adjacent territories” like Canada and Mexico), but the precise timeline is unclear.

Work vs tourism and technical violations

• Strong consensus that doing domestic work, even unpaid or barter (room/board), counts as “work” and is not allowed on a tourist/ESTA entry in the US or Canada.
• People emphasize broad definitions: volunteering with compensation or expectation of benefit can trigger violations.
• A few argue she should have used a J‑1 or other work‑authorized program; others say many travelers naively misunderstand this.

Detention vs simple removal

• Many accept that refusal of entry (and even removal) was legally justified but view 10+ days in detention as disproportionate, cruel, and expensive.
• Others argue that once both countries at a land border deny entry, one side must detain until deportation logistics are resolved, which can be slow.
• Sharp disagreement over whether such visa violations are akin to minor civil infractions (thus not warranting jail) or serious enough to justify mandatory detention.

Criticism of ICE/CBP and private detention

• Multiple commenters connect this case to broader patterns: other Europeans detained for weeks, private immigration prisons, bed quotas, and “making examples” to deter others.
• Some describe ICE/CBP as arbitrary, punitive, and operating with weak constitutional constraints, especially in the border zone.

International comparisons and traveler behavior

• Several contrast US treatment with reportedly more courteous EU/UK border officials, while others counter that European visa enforcement can be harsh, especially for non‑Western visitors.
• Stories of hostile US border experiences lead some frequent travelers to say they will now avoid the US entirely.
• A minority defend strict, uniform enforcement and argue that naive travelers from rich countries are discovering rules long applied to people from poorer countries.