VIDEO: Nigerian entrepreneur denied US entry before trade fair shares emotional story
Chinelo Ejianwu, a young Nigerian entrepreneur, has gone viral after sharing an emotional video detailing how she was denied entry into the United States on her way to participate in major trade fairs in Houston and New York City.
In the five-minute video, Ejimawu said she had spent months preparing for the exhibitions, noting that she was detained for nearly 24 hours at a US airport before being deported.
According to her, she was entering the country on a B1/B2 visa while intending to exhibit and sell products, an activity US immigration authorities classified as unauthorised work.
“I have thought of many ways to do this, but to be honest, none of it hurts any less,” she said tearfully.
“I won’t be at the trade fairs. I’m currently on my way back to Nigeria. This one hurt so bad.”
Chinelo Ejianwu
She said US border agents accessed her social media accounts, including Instagram messages with customers, which suggested she planned to engage in direct sales rather than attend as a passive exhibitor or observer.
Ejimawu admitted she was unaware of the visa limitations and did not intend to violate immigration laws.
“I just told them I was only going to exhibit. I didn’t know any better,” she said.
“I really wanted you guys to see the face behind this product. But I’ve come to terms with the fact that I messed up. I messed up big time.”
