The family of 38-year-old Toronto entrepreneur Sophia Mendez describes her unexpected detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as “an ongoing nightmare,” after what should have been a routine business meeting in Buffalo turned into a weeks-long ordeal with no clear resolution in sight.
Mendez, who runs a successful tech consultancy in Toronto, crossed the border on July 7 to meet with potential American partners as part of her company’s planned expansion into the U.S. market. Despite having proper documentation and a history of regular business travel to the United States, she was flagged during secondary screening at the Peace Bridge border crossing.
“My sister has traveled to the U.S. dozens of times for business without incident,” explains Marcus Mendez, Sophia’s brother. “Now she’s being treated like a criminal because of what appears to be a clerical error in the system. We haven’t been able to speak with her directly for more than 15 minutes since this began.”
According to documents provided by the family’s attorney, ICE officials claim Mendez violated the terms of her previous business visitor status by allegedly conducting work that required employment authorization. The family disputes this characterization, insisting all activities fell within permitted business visitor parameters.
Immigration experts suggest Mendez’s case highlights growing tensions in cross-border business relations. “We’re seeing increased scrutiny of Canadian business travelers under the Biden-Harris administration’s revised border policies implemented in early 2025,” notes immigration attorney Leila Fernandez. “The system’s algorithmic risk assessment tools are flagging more travelers, particularly those in technology sectors.”
Canadian consular officials confirmed to CO24 News that they are providing assistance, but the process has been frustratingly slow. “We’ve been told repeatedly that the case is ‘under review,’ but no one can tell us how long this might take or what specific concerns they have,” Marcus Mendez told me during our interview at the family’s Toronto home.
Sophia’s detention comes amid a 43% increase in Canadian business travelers facing enhanced screening at U.S. land borders in the first half of 2025, according to data from the Canada Border Services Agency. The surge follows implementation of new cross-border security protocols that emphasize technology sector screening.
Business advocacy groups have raised concerns about the economic impact of these detentions. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates that cross-border business disruptions could cost the Canadian economy upwards of $1.2 billion annually if current trends continue.
“What makes this particularly troubling is that my sister was explicitly looking to create American jobs through this expansion,” Marcus explains, showing me the business plan that outlined hiring at least seven U.S. employees at their proposed Buffalo office. “She was trying to contribute to both economies.”
The family has enlisted both legal representation and political support, with their local MP raising the issue during Question Period in Parliament last week. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has promised to make this case “a priority in bilateral discussions.”
As businesses on both sides of the border watch this case closely, the fundamental question remains: how can Canadian entrepreneurs maintain vital cross-border business relationships when the rules seem to be shifting beneath their feet? For Sophia Mendez and her family, the answer can’t come soon enough.
