A social media post about a foreign traveler who was denied entry to the United States at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has sparked debate over visa rules and the power of U.S. border officials.The case came to light after a Reddit user claimed that a friend with a valid B-1/B-2 visitor visa was denied entry upon arrival and detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).The post said the traveler had been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for several days, and family and friends were worried after losing contact with him.“A friend of mine with a valid B1/B2 visa was denied entry upon arrival at LAX. He has been in CBP custody for about 3 days and neither I nor his family have been able to contact him,” the Reddit user wrote.The passenger managed to send a brief message shortly after landing, after which all communications ceased.“Shortly after arriving, he briefly used his phone for about 5 minutes and messaged me that his visa had been denied and they were holding him. Since then, his phone has been completely idle and we haven’t heard anything further,” the post read.The Reddit user said his relatives became worried as the days passed without any updates on his condition.According to the user, the person visited the United States about seven to eight months ago and stayed in the United States for about four to five months. The poster emphasized that the visitor did not exceed the period of stay authorized by immigration officials.However, the user claimed that the traveler took a food delivery job during that visit because he was short of money.“For example: He visited the United States about 7-8 months ago and stayed for about 4-5 months. He did not exceed the required entry period. However, while he was in the United States, he was short of funds and did some food delivery work for a short period of time,” the Reddit user wrote.The poster believes that immigration authorities may have uncovered evidence of the alleged unauthorized work and linked it to the decision to deny entry.“My guess is that CBP may have discovered this and concluded that he violated his visa. Does this seem like a possible reason for being denied entry?” the user asked.Immigration experts often point out that having a valid visa does not automatically guarantee entry into the United States. CBP officers have the authority to question arriving passengers and determine whether they are still eligible for entry. Unauthorized employment while visiting the United States on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa may be considered an immigration violation and may affect future travel and entry decisions.
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