At the Canadian border, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a New Zealand mother and her 6-year-old son who lived in Washington State. After she dropped off her other children in Vancouver, Canada, she was arrested.
Sarah Shaw was arrested despite having certain immigration documents; she is currently filing for a U.S. green card. She is currently being held at a Texas correctional facility.
ICE has been enforcing immigration laws more rigorously since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Green card applicants and visa holders now face increased travel risks as a result of actions taken against those who already have legal status.
Victoria Besancon, a friend of Shaw’s, created a GoFundMe page detailing the incident. Shaw took her two older kids to the Vancouver airport on July 24 so they could take a plane to New Zealand to see their grandparents. She entered Canada without incident, but she and her youngest son, Isaac, were arrested by border guards upon her return to the United States.
Shaw was initially sponsored by her ex-husband to travel to the United States. She is now independently seeking for a green card under a rule for victims of domestic abuse. Although she received a different approval known as a combination card that allowed her to work in the United States, she did not yet have permission to travel. Her son was authorized to travel.
Customs and Border Protection would have probably permitted Shaw’s swift return to the United States under previous administrations, her attorney Minda Thorward told NBC’s King 5 News. But that didn’t occur under Trump’s policy.
Shaw is currently being detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, along with Isaac.
Shaw was on the verge of enrolling in graduate school and works for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Over $33,000 has been received through the GoFundMe to assist with her living expenses and legal expenditures.
Shaw’s situation is not unusual. ICE has recently apprehended other lawful residents as well. Some claim they should be released because they just made paperwork errors, while others have criminal backgrounds.
According to her friend Besancon, Sarah had been awaiting approval of her travel paperwork. She believed it was safe to leave after both her and her children’s visas were approved. It seemed good to all of us. She is devastated and startled.
People who are in the United States unlawfully have two options: they can choose to leave peacefully or risk being arrested and deported, according to a recent statement by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. We’re even giving people who self-deport $1,000 and complimentary flights. They might have the opportunity to return legally if they depart now.
ICE’s public detainee locator does not currently have Shaw on it. Her legal team and friends are requesting her and her son’s release.
