Kiwi Woman & Son, 6, Detained by ICE for Weeks: 'Terrifying' Experience
A New Zealand woman, Sarah Shaw, and her six-year-old son endured a 'terrifying' ordeal after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for three weeks. This happened after they attempted to re-enter the United States from Canada. Sarah Shaw, who resides in Washington state and possesses a U.S. visa, was detained with her youngest son at the Canada-US border.
According to a close friend, Victoria Besancon, Sarah felt like she was being kidnapped. She said, “They didn’t really explain anything to her at first, they just kind of quietly took her and her son and immediately put them in like an unmarked white van.” ICE also confiscated Sarah’s phone and transported them to an immigration processing center in south Texas.
Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand national living in Washington state, had taken her two older children to Vancouver airport for a flight to New Zealand to visit their grandparents. She brought her youngest son, Isaac, along for the drive. The crossing into Canada was smooth, but the return was not.
The detention occurred because, while Sarah's work authorization had been approved, her advance parole (allowing international travel and re-entry) had not. Her attorney, Minda Thorward, stated that it was a simple administrative error and that Border Patrol had the discretion to parole her into the U.S.
The situation has raised concerns about immigration procedures and the impact on families. The father of Sarah Shaw has voiced his hope for the release of his daughter and grandson. The case highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of international travel and immigration regulations.
Key Takeaways
- New Zealand woman and her son detained by ICE for three weeks.
- Detention occurred after attempting to re-enter the US from Canada.
- Family and friends describe the ordeal as 'terrifying'.
- The detention was due to an administrative error regarding visa documents.