New Zealand woman and six-year-old son detained for three weeks
10 days ago
- #human rights
- #immigration
- #detention
- Sarah Shaw, a New Zealander living in Washington state, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) when attempting to re-enter the US from Canada with her six-year-old son.
- Shaw and her son were transported to an immigration processing center in Texas, far from their home, and are being held under conditions described as 'horrible' and 'barbaric'.
- Shaw is on a 'combo card' visa, which includes an employment visa and an I-360 visa for domestic violence survivors. She was unaware that the I-360 part was still pending approval.
- Her friend, Victoria Besancon, claims Shaw and her son are being treated like criminals, with their human rights violated, and that her son is being detained 'illegally' as his I-360 visa has been approved.
- Shaw's case is part of a broader trend of foreigners, including those with valid visas, being detained and deported at the US border under the Trump administration's immigration policies.
- The Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), Shaw's union, has called for her release, criticizing Ice practices and US immigration policies as contrary to American values and human rights.
- New Zealand's foreign affairs ministry is in contact with Shaw but cannot comment further due to privacy concerns.