New Zealand mother and young son endure harrowing US detention over visa confusion

Published: 13 August. the English Chronicle Desk. English Chronicle Online

A New Zealand woman and her six-year-old son are enduring a distressing ordeal at a US immigration facility after being detained while attempting to re-enter the country from Canada, highlighting ongoing concerns over US border enforcement practices. Sarah Shaw, 33, who has legally resided in Washington state for just over three years, was separated from her family and transported hundreds of miles to a detention centre in South Texas, sparking criticism from friends, advocates, and her union.

Shaw had accompanied her two older children to Vancouver airport on 24 July so they could fly directly back to New Zealand for a holiday with their grandparents. However, when she and her youngest son attempted to return to the US, they were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to Victoria Besancon, Shaw’s friend and advocate, the experience was “terrifying,” describing the initial moments as chaotic and frightening, with Shaw and her son placed in an unmarked van without clear explanation.

ICE confiscated Shaw’s phone and transferred her to the Dilley immigration processing center, far from her home and support network. Besancon emphasised the distress caused by the isolation, language barriers, and confinement. “It really is kind of like being in jail … it has been absolutely devastating and it’s kind of barbaric,” she said, highlighting that Shaw and her son are the only English speakers in their unit and are restricted in movement and clothing.

Shaw holds a “combo card” visa, which combines an employment visa obtained through her work at a maximum-security juvenile facility and an I-360 visa that provides immigration status for domestic violence survivors. While Shaw had received confirmation of her visa renewal, she was unaware that the I-360 component was still pending approval. This partial approval led to her unexpected detention, despite her lawful residency and contributions to her community.

All three of Shaw’s children have had their I-360 visas approved, yet her youngest son remains detained, prompting concerns that the detention is legally questionable. Besancon stressed that alternative measures, such as humanitarian parole, could have been applied without separating mother and child.

Shaw’s case has drawn attention to broader issues at the US border, where foreign nationals with valid visas continue to face interrogation, prolonged detention, and even deportation. Recent incidents have involved British, German, Canadian, and Australian visitors who were held or deported despite legal status.

The Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), representing Shaw, condemned ICE practices and broader immigration policies. Mike Yestramski, the union president, said, “The trauma this has already caused for her and her son may never be healed,” stressing that such enforcement contradicts American values and human rights.

New Zealand’s foreign affairs ministry has confirmed contact with Shaw but cited privacy considerations, offering limited public comment. Meanwhile, advocates continue to call for her immediate release, highlighting the emotional, financial, and social toll of prolonged detention on lawful immigrants and their families.