New Zealand Mother and Son Detained in U.S. After Border Mishap

A New Zealand woman and her six-year-old son, Isaac, have been detained by U.S. immigration authorities after being forcibly held at the border following an administrative error. Sarah Shaw and her son were detained three weeks ago while attempting to return to their home in Washington State after a visit to New Zealand.

A Family in Crisis

Sarah Shaw, a mother of three, and her youngest son Isaac were detained on the Canadian border on July 24, after returning from a trip where her two eldest children, Grace, 11, and Seth, 9, flew to New Zealand to visit their grandparents. Isaac, who was not old enough to travel unaccompanied, remained with Shaw during the return trip. However, upon attempting to re-enter the U.S., they were “forcibly detained” by U.S. immigration authorities.

Shaw’s friend, Victoria Besancon, who organized the trip, has been leading the effort to secure their release. Besancon, who met Shaw on a mother’s Facebook group in 2021, said that the family was unaware of the detention for two days after Shaw failed to return as expected. “I started getting this horrible feeling,” Besancon said. “I reached out to her boyfriend and her lawyer, and that’s when we found out there had been some issues at the border.”

Administrative Error and Legal Struggles

Shaw’s attorney, Minda Thorward, explained that Shaw had a valid temporary immigration document allowing her to re-enter the U.S. However, an “administrative error” with the document led to her and Isaac being detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas. According to Besancon, the detention has been described as “legal-sanctioned kidnapping,” with no official court date set for over three weeks.

“They didn’t even have their normal clothes. They’re not allowed to wear their own underwear. They’re in these uniforms. They’re the only people in the entire facility that speak English,” Besancon said, describing the conditions as “very strange sort of social isolation.”

A GoFundMe for Justice

In response to the situation, Besancon launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Shaw and Isaac return to their home in Washington. The campaign has drawn support from across the country, highlighting the growing concern over U.S. immigration policies and their impact on families.

“She’s absolutely devastated,” Besancon said of Shaw. “She’s had to pay for an attorney in Washington and an attorney in Texas. She hasn’t been able to work. She’s had to pay all her bills and her rent. She’s completely drained her savings, and she’s the only financial support she has within her family.”

A Call for Advocacy

Despite the challenges, Shaw remains determined to advocate for other families affected by similar situations. “She wants to use that freedom to advocate for other women and children she’s met who are going through this exact same situation,” Besancon said.

Shaw previously worked as a juvenile rehabilitation employee at the Echo Glen Children’s Centre in Snoqualmie, Washington, and has a strong history of community service.

Next Steps

The family is currently waiting to learn whether Isaac will be released soon and what the next steps are for Shaw. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been informed of the situation and is seeking further details.

As the story continues to unfold, the case of Sarah Shaw and Isaac has sparked a renewed conversation about the complexities of U.S. immigration policies and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the system.