The father of a New Zealand woman, Sarah Shaw, who has been held in US immigration detention for three weeks with her six-year-old son is hopeful for their release by the end of the week. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Shaw and her son after their attempt to re-enter the US from Canada on July 24. The detainment followed Shaw dropping off her two eldest children at Vancouver airport for their direct flight to New Zealand to spend a holiday with their grandparents.
Shaw’s father, Rod Price, received a distressed call from her indicating she was being detained and her phone would be taken away. ICE has since confirmed they have Shaw and her son in custody. Price stated there was a 90% chance his daughter and grandson would be freed on Friday afternoon, New Zealand time. Shaw’s friend, Victoria Besancon, mentioned that Shaw had received documents indicating her potential release, but the immigration center had not confirmed these details to Shaw’s lawyer as of Thursday.
The transfer to the Dilley immigration processing center in south Texas, far from their home in Washington state, has been particularly grueling. Both Shaw and Besancon have described the conditions as akin to being in jail, causing significant distress. Shaw has a temporary immigration document known as a “combo card,” which includes employment authorization and eligibility for an I-360 visa for domestic violence survivors. However, Shaw had not realized that the I-360 visa component was still pending approval.
Shaw’s lawyer, Minda Thorward, argued this was an administrative error and that border patrol could have parole Shaw into the US. She criticized the detention of Shaw’s young son, deeming it “unconscionable.” New Zealand’s foreign affairs ministry is monitoring the case but cannot comment due to privacy concerns. The situation highlights a growing trend of foreigners facing detention and deportation at the US border, reflecting a broader issue of strict immigration enforcement measures.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/14/father-of-new-zealand-woman-held-in-us-by-ice-along-with-six-year-old-son-voices-hope-for-release-ntwnfb
