US visa holder denied entry at Los Angeles airport after previous visit, held in CBP custody; family unable to contact him

A social media post about a foreign traveller being denied entry to US at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has stirred a row about visa rules and the powers of US border officials.

The case came to light after a Reddit user claimed that a friend travelling on a valid B-1/B-2 visitor visa was refused entry upon arrival and held by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

According to the post, the traveller had been in CBP custody for several days, leaving family members and friends concerned after losing contact with him.

“A friend of mine with a valid B1/B2 visa was denied entry upon arrival at LAX. He’s been in CBP custody for about 3 days now, and neither I nor his family have been able to contact him,” the Reddit user wrote.

The traveller managed to send a brief message shortly after landing before all communication stopped.

“Shortly after arriving, he briefly got access to his phone for about 5 minutes and messaged me that his visa had been denied and that they were holding him. Since then, his phone has been completely inactive, and we haven’t heard anything further,” the post stated.

The Reddit user said relatives had become worried as the days passed without any updates about his situation.

According to the user, the individual had previously visited US around seven to eight months ago and stayed for around four to five months. The poster stressed that the visitor did not overstay the period authorised by immigration officials.

However, the user claimed the traveller had undertaken food delivery work during that visit after running short of money.

“For some context: he visited the US about 7-8 months ago and stayed for roughly 4-5 months. He did not overstay his authorized period of admission. However, while he was here, he ran low on money and did some under the table food delivery work for a short time,” the Reddit user wrote.

The poster believes immigration authorities may have discovered evidence of the alleged unauthorised 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 that seem like a likely reason for being denied entry?” the user asked.

Immigration experts frequently point out that possessing a valid visa does not automatically guarantee entry into US. CBP officers have authority to question arriving passengers and determine whether they remain eligible for admission. Unauthorised employment while visiting the US on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa can be treated as a violation of immigration rules and may affect future travel and entry decisions.
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