TORONTO - A Canadian gay adult entertainer has been banned from entering the United States for ten years following an extended detention and interrogation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Toronto Pearson Airport. Milo Miles, a model and performer, was attempting to travel to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony when he was subjected to an eight-hour ordeal that he described as invasive and coercive.
Miles was scheduled to attend the annual GayVN Awards on January 20, where he was a nominee and presenter. Despite being a member of the NEXUS trusted traveler program, he was pulled aside for secondary screening. Over two consecutive days, he was detained for a total of eight hours.
During the interrogation, Miles reports that officers searched his luggage and both of his mobile phones. He stated that the questioning had an "unsettling focus" on his sexual orientation and sex life. Officers allegedly questioned him about his PrEP medication, dietary supplements, and what they termed his "gay clothes."
"I was treated like a criminal despite having done nothing wrong," Miles told LGBTQ Nation. "I felt coerced, manipulated, and powerless."
Justification for the Ban
The situation escalated when officers charged his work phone and discovered text messages related to his work as an escort. Based on these messages, CBP issued a 10-year ban from entering the country.
Under U.S. immigration law, any individual who has engaged in prostitution within the last 10 years is considered inadmissible. While Miles distinguishes his work as escorting—exchanging money for time and companionship—from prostitution, U.S. authorities often do not make such a distinction. Miles claims he was pressured into confessing to the officers' definition of prostitution while exhausted and deprived of food.
This legal stance in the United States presents a significant contrast to the legal framework in the Netherlands, where sex work is a regulated profession. For many in Europe, the American approach can appear severe and rooted in moral, rather than practical, considerations.
Broader Concerns Over Surveillance
While CBP did not provide a reason for the initial flag on his account, Miles speculates it could be related to increased travel to visit his American partner or the implementation of new facial recognition technology (FRT) at the border.
There is growing concern among privacy advocates and sex worker rights organizations about the use of digital surveillance to screen travelers. Reports have previously highlighted instances where queer sex workers were denied entry to the U.S. after being identified by FRT or having their digital privacy compromised during searches of their electronic devices.
The incident has had a profound impact on Miles, both professionally and personally. A significant portion of his work is based in the U.S., and the ban complicates his relationship with his American partner, with whom he had planned to build a life.
His experience serves as a cautionary account for international LGBTQ+ travelers, particularly those whose professions or lifestyles might be scrutinized by border authorities. "Avoid the United States at all costs," Miles warned. "It's not worth it to put your life at risk."
