A New Zealand woman and her six-year-old son have been detained by US immigration officials after she tried to return to America from a trip to Canada.
Sarah Shaw had taken her two older children to Vancouver so they could catch a direct flight back to New Zealand on July 24 to visit family, and she then planned to travel back to her home in Washington state with her younger son.
Shaw’s lawyer Minda Thorward told local media that she had a temporary immigration document that allowed her travel and re-enter the US but there was an ‘administrative error’ with it.
Her friend Victoria Bescancon told 1News that she was stopped at the border by immigration agents and told there was a problem with her documents, so she and her son would be detained immediately.
“Sarah slept on the floor with her son in a room. They had an emergency blanket,” said Besancon.
Shaw and her son were then transferred to a facility in South Texas – one of only two that can house families together.
“Sarah is trying really hard to stay positive and trying really hard to adjust to the situation, but watching your child be detained in an immigration facility being the only two people who speak English in that facility and being treated every single day like a criminal has been devastating to her,” said Bescancon.
Shaw and her son are now sharing their room with four other families, she said.
“She’s not even able to have a conversation with anybody or just relate. And it’s been really difficult for her.”
Besancon has setup a fundraising page for Shaw to help with legal costs, with nearly US$40,000 already raised.
“She’s not able to independently make phone calls to anybody she would like, but it has meant the world to her to know that she’s not alone in this situation, that there are people who care and there are people who are taking this situation very seriously for her and her son.”
Shaw’s legal team have told them the allegations from immigration officials are incorrect and they are now fighting for a court date.
Thoward said the toll was particularly tough on the young boy. “Every day is more trauma for him.”
Along with legal costs, Shaw is also covering rent and car payments.
Her two older children were due back in the US next month, Bescancon said.
Seattle media site KING5 said Shaw immigrated to the United States three and a half years ago with her then-husband as her sponsor. They subsequently divorced and while this can jeopardise a green card application, Shaw was able to reapply independently under guidelines for survivors of domestic abuse, KING5 said.
Shaw has been working at a juvenile care facility run by Washington state.
NZ’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said consular officials were aware of reports that a New Zealander and her son have been detained and are seeking further information.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told media there were “scant details” around the case at this stage.
“I can’t tell you anymore than that. We’re trying to find out what the details are, we haven’t got those details yet.”
1News has approached United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.
