New Zealander Detained by ICE Waits for Decision on Release of 6-Year-Old Son

A New Zealander resident in the United States, detained by ICE as she tried to re-enter America from Canada, is still waiting to hear the fate of her 6-year-old son Isaac.

Sarah Shaw and the boy were transported away at the border after taking her two other children to catch a flight in Vancouver on July 24, which was taking them to visit their grandparents in New Zealand.

She is now locked up at an immigration processing centre in Texas, and has no idea of the whereabouts of Isaac, though it’s thought he is in the same facility.

Shaw is a resident of Washington State and works at a juvenile detention facility, and the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) has called for her immediate release. She is due to begin graduate school on Aug. 25.

Accounts vary over the reason for Shaw’s detention. Some media are reporting that part of her visa had not been renewed, making her ineligible to re-enter the United States.

A GoFundMe page set up to support the family by raising $55,000 for legal fees claims that “ICE had incredibly incorrect information about their visas.”

It also claims that “ICE refused to allow [Isaac] to be picked up by friends or family despite his legal visa.”

Newsweek has reported that Shaw was waiting for a green card and was arrested despite having some immigration documents.

Family friend Victoria Besancon told RNZ that Shaw initially thought she was being kidnapped.

“They were put into a giant white van, there was no markers on it, and not a lot was explained to them, so she was absolutely terrified,” Besancon said.

She said the conditions Shaw was being held in were “very similar to a prison.”

“She is in a locked room with five bunk beds, she’s allowed to walk around the facility from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, but outside of that she is locked in a cell with other families,” she said.

The Shaws were among the only English speakers at the facility.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of Shaw and her son’s detention and was seeking further information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said there were “scant details” but “Foreign Affairs and Consular Affairs are on to it now … I can’t tell you any more than that,” he said.

“We’re trying to find out what the details are, we haven’t got those details yet.”