I'm the Canadian who was detained by ICE for two weeks

If the objective is to scare people off from going to the USA, then they're doing a magnificent job. I've heard other cases of people with green cards being arrested and put in terrible conditions, with absolutely no reason given. This woman was ready to go back home and not enter the US, but instead she was dragged through hell and only released because she was Canadian. All those with different passports get subjected to their own more oppressive and never ending hells, like being deported to a prison camp in Ecuador with no idea when you'd ever be released.

New America is absolutely terrifying.

New America? I beg to differ.

The United States has always been hostile to outsiders—what’s different now is that they’re not even trying to hide it.

As a naturalized Canadian, crossing the U.S. border has always been a frustrating ordeal. Despite holding a valid Canadian passport, I’m routinely subjected to an extra hour of “security” questioning. Maybe I’m just unlucky. Or maybe it’s because I was born in an "undesirable" Middle Eastern country and have brown skin. One time I was detained for 5 hours and were questioned about "Islam" (ironically, I'm a Christian so I couldn't answer their questions).

My belongings are always searched, and I’m treated as less than human by CBP. I suspect that if you’re white, crossing from EU or elsewhere, you were used to an easier time until now.

The gloves are off.

For whatever it's worth, I'm treated this way as a white American. I'm selected for extra screening every single time I reenter the country. Though, I don't think it's ever been longer that 30 minutes or so. I don't know why but some combination of having a beard, being naturally anxious and having traveled to "unusual" countries -- at least by American standards. Crossing the border makes for a guaranteed panic attack and I've let my passport expire. It's a damn shame, too, because it's depriving my kids of invaluable life experiences and has brought my relationship with my spouse (who loves to travel) to the brink on multiple occasions.

I'm curious: which were the unusual countries?