Another wake-up call in the era of law and order: Biden may have thrown open the borders, but under Trump-era immigration policies still on the books, fraud doesn’t fly — no matter how many tears are shed.
A Nigerian businesswoman, Chinelo Ejianwu, learned the hard way that U.S. immigration doesn’t play around when it comes to visa fraud — especially not under rules put in place during President Donald Trump’s administration.
As of June 18, 2025, the Trump administration’s policy requires F‑, M‑, and J‑visa applicants to make all social media accounts public and disclose usernames from the last five years for enhanced vetting.
This policy targets student, vocational, and exchange programs — not tourist, business, or temporary visit categories.
However, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers can search phones or computers and review digital content during entry inspections, regardless of visa type.
If they find posts or content flagged as politically sensitive, extremist, or related to national-security concerns, you may face denial of entry or detainment—even with a valid visa.
Ejianwu, the owner of “Onyx Hair by Nelly,” sobbed in a viral video after being detained for 24 hours and ultimately denied entry into the United States upon arrival for what she claimed was a “business meeting” trip.
She was heading to Houston to participate as an exhibiting vendor at a major Nigerian-backed trade fair — a violation of her B1/B2 visa.
A B1/B2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued by the United States to foreign nationals for temporary stays, typically for business (B1) or tourism (B2) purposes, or a combination of both.
This visa allows individuals to enter the U.S. for a limited period to engage in activities like attending business meetings, visiting family, or sightseeing.
“This has to be one of the hardest posts I have made . But I told myself I was always going to tell my story no matter how bad or ugly it is. I know social media life doesn’t really show the messy side, but here is one of mine,” Chinelo wrote on her Facebook.
“I really don’t even know how I feel at the moment. I have dealt with different emotions anger, anxiety,rejection,regret ,you name it. I wish there was a way I can clear the image of how I Was handled like a criminal literally, detained for more than 26 hours, my phones and passport taken from me and escorted back to the plane like a fugitive off my head or all the funds in thousands of dollars that went down the drain but this won’t break me.”
According to her, U.S. officials scanned her Instagram messages and posts, uncovering clear-cut evidence that she was promoting her presence at the “Naija Brand Chick Trade Exhibition” in Houston, scheduled for June 27–29.
Her role? Officially listed as an exhibiting vendor — the type of commercial activity that squarely violates the terms of a tourist/business visa.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Chinelo Ejianwu (@onyxhair_bynellyng)
She marketed the event publicly.
She coordinated order pickups with customers on U.S. soil.
She admitted that products were shipped in for the event.
And she expected to make sales — on U.S. soil — without the appropriate work authorization.
Chinelo Ejianwu:
Hi everyone. I’ve thought of many ways to do this, and to be honest, none of them make it hurt any less. I kept asking myself, Should I tell you guys the truth, or should I just play along with it? But I think the best thing is just to tell the truth.As you all know, my team has really prepared for this trade fair—for Houston and for New York. So many sleepless nights went into preparing for it. But it haunts me to tell you guys that I won’t be there, because currently, I am on my way back to Nigeria.
I’m not one to come on social media and cry or talk about all my hurts as a business person—but this one hurts. It hurts so bad.
So apparently, I was denied entry into the U.S. That’s because my visa was a B1/B2 visa, which is for tourism and business meetings, right? When I landed, I was detained for 24 hours in their detention room.
When I was questioned, I told them I was just going to exhibit—but I didn’t know any better. The U.S. has all your data—your Instagram page, every single thing.
So apparently, my Instagram obviously said otherwise. They even checked all my messages with customers—messages where I was telling them we were coming, they could pick up their orders, and all of that.
Long story short, this is actually for my U.S. ladies—God knows I tried. I really wanted you guys to see the face behind this brand. The face that puts in all the work. I wanted you guys not only to experience the products but to feel the passion behind them.
At this point, I’m not even thinking about all the money that’s been lost—because, honestly, it’s a lot.
So what I need from you guys is to just support me in any way you can. If you go to the fair, I have someone who will stand in for me. Just support me—support me as much as you can. I really appreciate it.
And you guys—I’ll be fine. Honestly, I will be fine. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I messed up. I messed up big time. Because this is the U.S.—I could have just told them the truth, even if it meant them seizing all the goods I came with.
But I’ve told myself—this is not the time to start regretting. I’ve been on this flight for almost 12 hours now, with so many thoughts in my head.
But I know this is just one of the ways the devil tries to make me doubt a lot of things. Still, I know God is aware. And I’ve also learned my lessons.
One thing I know is that His plans for me are of good and not of evil. So I trust Him. Even though it hurts, I trust Him.
WATCH:
“I Was Granted a Visa To The US. Only To Be Detained For 24 Hrs And Denied Entry Into America After I Land Just Because They Checked My Social Media Handle And Saw What I Posted There”.-Lady Cries Out pic.twitter.com/ulfHCKhx26
— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) June 29, 2025
Here’s an explanation to her violation:
“It’s Your Fault. What You Posted On Your Social Media Handle Was In Violation Of Your Visa. US Visa Policy Are Changing Now”-Lady Reacts To The Nigerian Woman Who Was Detained And Denied Entry Into America https://t.co/qAkfE8n3ry pic.twitter.com/cORD7UNGO0
— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) June 29, 2025
The post Nigerian Woman Breaks Down After Being Detained and Denied Entry at U.S. Airport Over Social Media Posts That Revealed Her True Reason for Visiting the Country appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.