Fine, but there certainly is provision to get a 24-hour TWOV then if circumstances warrant due to airline issues, to get that extended. It's unclear why this didn't happen. Frankly, there's plenty of blame to go around but is sounds like AA is the party that dropped the biggest ball.

I agree with @889's observation that speaking Chinese instead of sticking with English was a mistake, and that for whatever reason, Immigration decided to be uncharacteristically punitive. What was your demeanor and attitude? Are you of Taiwan Chinese extraction?