New Zealand Woman and Son Detained in US Immigration Center Hopeful for Release

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand national, and her six-year-old son have faced an extended ordeal in a US immigration detention facility, where they have been held for three weeks. This situation arose after Shaw attempted to return to the United States from Canada on July 24, having just said goodbye to her two older children at the Vancouver airport, who were flying back to New Zealand for a vacation with their grandparents. Her father, Rod Price, received a distressed call from Shaw revealing that she was being detained and warned that her phone would be confiscated.

According to Shaw's friend, Victoria Besancon, recent communications suggest that Shaw has been informed about potential release documents, although confirmation from the immigration center to her attorney is still pending. Price expressed optimism about Shaw's chances, estimating a "90% chance" of her release by Friday afternoon, aligned with New Zealand time. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transferred Shaw and her child to a processing center in Dilley, Texas, far from their home in Washington state, as reported by Besancon.

The experience has been described as harrowing; Besancon likened it to imprisonment and characterized it as "devastating" and "barbaric." Shaw holds a “combo card,” a temporary immigration document that secures her work authorization, which she had obtained while working at a juvenile detention facility. Recently, she received a letter confirming the renewal of this document but was unaware that the I-360 aspect of her visa was still awaiting approval, leading to the current complications.

Shaw’s attorney, Minda Thorward, noted that this issue stems from a minor administrative error, emphasizing that border patrol officers have the authority to parole Shaw into the US. Importantly, Shaw’s other children were correctly documented for entry into the country, raising concerns about the necessity of her son’s detention. New Zealand's foreign affairs ministry is in communication with Shaw but has refrained from commenting publicly due to privacy concerns. Meanwhile, there is growing scrutiny surrounding the treatment of foreign nationals at the US border, with other recent instances of individuals facing similar detention and deportation despite having valid visas.