New Zealand Mother and Son Released After ICE Detention in Texas

EVERETT, Wash. — Sarah Shaw, a 33-year-old New Zealand citizen, and her six-year-old son, Isaac, were released from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Texas after being held for more than three weeks. They were detained while attempting to re-enter the U.S. from Canada on July 24.

Shaw’s detention began after she dropped her two older children off at the Vancouver airport for a trip to New Zealand. As she tried to return to Washington state with her youngest son, border officials detained them due to issues with her travel permit.

“When she tried to come back across the border, she received a frantic call saying that she was being detained,” said Rod Price, Shaw’s father. Her friend, Victoria Besancon, described the situation as “barbaric.”

Shaw, who has lived in Washington for over three years, held a combination visa that included an employment visa and an I-360 visa for domestic violence survivors. Besancon noted that a clerical error meant that while Shaw’s work authorization was renewed, the travel portion was not fully approved.

After Shaw’s phone was confiscated, she and her son were transported to the Dilley immigration processing center in Texas, located far from their home. Besancon stated the conditions were harsh, likening it to prison, where they were locked in their room overnight and unable to wear their clothes.

Legal representatives described the ordeal as a “terrifying” experience. Shaw’s attorney emphasized that there was no justification for their detention, especially since her son’s documentation was correct. Denver’s immigration officials stated they would follow protocols to keep families together.

Following public support and advocacy, Shaw was released, with Besancon confirming they were safely home. The family will take time to settle in before sharing their experience.

“The trauma this has already caused may never be healed,” said Mike Yestramski, president of Shaw’s union, reflecting on the growing concern over immigrant detentions along the U.S. border.