A Reddit post detailing the apparent detention of a foreign traveler at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has sparked discussion online about the powers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the consequences of violating visa rules.
The post, shared on Reddit this week, describes the case of a traveler who allegedly arrived in the United States with a valid B-1/B-2 visitor visa but was denied entry upon arrival.
According to the user, their friend, who was traveling, had been held by CBP for several days with family members and friends unable to establish contact.
“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 individual managed to send a brief message shortly after landing before communication ceased.
READ: Multiple US visa rejections: Indian parents denied B1/B2 4 times (April 16, 2026)
“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 user said the traveler’s family has grown increasingly concerned as days have passed without updates.
According to the Reddit account, the traveler had previously visited the United States approximately seven to eight months earlier and remained in the country for four to five months.
The poster emphasized that the visitor did not overstay the period authorized by immigration officials.
However, the user acknowledged that the traveler allegedly performed food delivery work while in the United States after experiencing financial difficulties.
“For some context: he visited the U.S. 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.
READ: ‘Not able to approve your visa today’: Indian applicant rejected in 3-minute interview (March 4, 2026)
The poster speculated that immigration authorities may have uncovered evidence of the unauthorized employment and determined that the traveler violated the terms of his visitor visa.
“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.
The post also raised questions about what happens when travelers are held by CBP after being refused admission and how long it typically takes for individuals to be returned to their home countries.
While the circumstances described in the post have not been independently verified, immigration attorneys frequently note that a valid visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.
CBP officers have the authority to question arriving travelers and determine whether they remain eligible for admission.
Unauthorized employment while visiting on a B-1/B-2 visa can be considered a violation of immigration rules and may affect future entry decisions.