For emphasis: what
@Copingwithlife and
@k.h.p. posted.
And . . . it is not just about getting caught making an overt misrepresentation, and the direct consequences imposed for that (OP's scenario), which can also include even criminal charges and real incarceration. It is far, far more common for officials to perceive evasiveness and likely discrepancies, which can seriously compromise one's credibility. Many blame this or that official for being more strict or aggressive, when what triggered the official's strict or aggressive approach is something which has compromised the individual's credibility. If and when an official perceives the individual is not being openly honest, yeah, that tends to change the character of the interaction in a
not-so-friendly direction . . . and what triggers this can be well shy of being an obvious or overt falsehood.
Generally I do not confess. Watched too many cop movies. But I will admit that the younger version of me would not have fared well in today's world. Things have changed. Not just in my lifetime (noting I first came to Canada when Louis St. Laurent was Prime Minister, and yeah that was in the 1950s), but a lot, a real lot having changed even in just the last decade, just since I finally became a Canadian.
Maintaining one's credibility will not change the facts. But in many if not most transactions with border and immigration officials, credibility is probably the second biggest factor influencing how things go.
THIS IS NOT a comment on how things will go for the OP dealing with U.S. immigration. I do not know how the Canadian record will affect U.S. decision-making. The U.S. authorities tend to make me rather nervous. Too nervous to be objective. In regards to the U.S., my paranoia runs deep.