DSLR is not detected by Import

One thing to narrow it down: Open the Image Capture app that comes with every Mac, and see if the camera shows up there. If the camera is listed in Image Capture, then the connection from camera to Mac is OK, and you next troubleshoot Lightroom Classic.

If the camera is not listed in Image Capture, then you have to troubleshoot the connection to the Mac before you can suspect Lightroom Classic.

Also, look in the camera menus and its manual to determine what USB mode the camera is in. When directly connecting a camera to the computer with a USB cable, the camera may have more than one USB mode (for example, PTP or Mass Storage), the exact names can differ depending on the camera.) The point is, some cameras only show up on the computer if its USB connection setting is set a certain way. See if the manual recommends a way to set USB connection when connecting to a computer, then set the camera that way. If it doesn’t work, try setting the option the other way.

If the Mac can see it but Lightroom Classic can’t, you may have to find out if Lightroom Classic has been granted permission in macOS to have access to external volumes, or just turn on Full Disk Access.

I have not... i have never owned a sd card reader but i just bought one after reading your reply. Usually works fine plugging into camera.. first time i plugged it in it asked if i wanted to approve the new camera and i said yes. Then nothing else ever happened .. so i think the chord works i just don't understand whats going on