A young Kiwi mum and her six-year-old son, who were detained at the US-Canada border and held for weeks, have been released from ICE custody.
In a statement authorised by Sarah Shaw, released by her lawyer’s office, today said they were “at home and recovering” after being released mid-afternoon yesterday.
“Sarah is glad that she and Isaac have both been released from detention and grateful for the outpouring of community support. However, she would like some time to herself to focus on her family and returning to their daily routines.”
A friend of Shaw yesterday told 1News the mother intended to speak about her experiences at a later date.
Shaw and her son, Isaac, who flew home from a Texas facility, were detained three weeks ago after dropping her other children off in Vancouver to catch a flight.
On July 24, the mother had taken her two older children to the Canadian city so they could catch a direct flight back to New Zealand to visit family. It was previously reported that she then planned to travel back to her home in Washington with her younger son.
Both were then stopped at the border by immigration agents, who said there was a problem with her documents. The pair were immediately detained.
Shaw’s lawyer, Minda Thorward, told local media at the time that she had a temporary immigration document that allowed her to travel and re-enter the US, but there had been an “administrative error” with it.
Shaw and her son were then transferred to a facility in South Texas – one of only two that can house families together. She and her son shared a room with four other families, and were among the only detainees who spoke English.
Her detainment came as immigration officials in the US ramped up their efforts under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. This has led to people being detained who typically were not detained under previous administrations.
‘Terrifying’ experience with US immigration authorities
The pair were being held in a detention facility more than 3000km away from their home state of Washington. (Source: Breakfast)
A friend previously told 1News Shaw was “absolutely terrified” when she and her son were bundled into a giant white van with no markings on it at the Canadian border.
“I remember her on the phone being absolutely panicked. She originally thought she was being kidnapped, she didn’t even realise she was being detained originally.”
The conditions she was being held in were “very similar to a prison,” they said.
“She is in a locked room with five bunk beds, she’s allowed to walk around the facility from 8am to 8pm, but outside of that, she is locked in a cell with other families.”
A graduate student working towards her master’s degree and working for the state in corrections, Shaw had lived in the US for the past three years. Shaw was working at a juvenile care facility run by Washington state.
