Canadian allowed only 1 month in US?

A Canadian friend of mine recently took a night bus from Toronto to New York with intentions of staying for 4-6 months (but not overstaying). He didn't have a return ticket and wasn't prepared with proof of ties to his home country (Canada). The border guard went through his belongings (including journals) before eventually letting him through -- with the caveat that he must return to Canada within one month or else be barred from entering the US for 5 years. His passport stamp has "B2 - Stay Limited" written on it.

Has anyone heard of this happening? I have been searching the web, and all I've seen is people either being denied/barred at the border, or else being let through. Does anyone know about limited stays on Canadian B2 (tourist) visas? Could he go to the Canadian consulate in NYC and have the restriction removed? Or could he go back to Canada and then re-enter and stay for the normal 6 months?

Thanks for your help.

He didn't have a return ticket. Its that simple. This is why his stay is limited to "1 month"... He should have bought a return ticket with insurance in the event he didn't plan on coming back until the 6 month time approached.

This sort of thing happens all the time. Nothing new.

Exactly. The person was deemed untrustworthy to return on his own, thus he now has a paper that tells him to leave in one month.

He'll know better next time.

Has anyone heard of this happening?

It's not uncommon, they just issue an I-94 and put down the day they think you should leave on it. Had it happen to me once at Dulles, I was going to a friend's wedding and the inspector just could not wrap his head around the fact that anyone would go to a wedding in West Virginia, so he "paroled" me in, and limited my stay to two weeks.

Nowadays I carry a portfolio with me which has tons of proof of non-immigrant intent, this shortens the conversation.