A New Zealand woman and her youngest son, living in Washington, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Canadian border after dropping her other children off in Vancouver.
Sarah Shaw, who is awaiting a green card, and her 6-year-old son Isaac were arrested despite possessing some immigration documents. She is currently being held at a detention facility in Texas.
Why It Matters
Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, ICE has taken a stricter approach to immigration enforcement, even targeting those with legal status. This shift has created increased uncertainty for green card holders and other long-term visa holders traveling internationally.
What To Know
A GoFundMe page set up by Shaw’s friend, Victoria Besancon, explains that the mother of three had carefully prepared for a short trip across the U.S.-Canada border on July 24 to drop off her two eldest children at Vancouver’s airport, as they were returning to New Zealand to visit their grandparents.
While her entry into Canada was uneventful, Shaw and Isaac were detained on their return to the United States.
Shaw originally entered the U.S. under sponsorship from her ex-husband. She is now seeking a green card independently under a domestic violence survivor provision. According to the GoFundMe, she had work authorization but not full travel permissions yet, part of what is known as a “combo card,” whereas her son did have travel authorization.
Her attorney, Minda Thorward, told NBC King 5 that under previous administrations, Shaw would likely have been quickly paroled back into the U.S. by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), but this practice has shifted under Trump.
Despite Isaac having travel permissions, ICE is still holding him, along with Shaw, at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas.
Besancon noted on the GoFundMe page that Shaw works for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and was about to start graduate school. The fundraising effort, which had reached over $33,000 by Monday morning, is intended to cover legal fees and essential expenses after Shaw depleted her savings for legal representation.
Shaw’s Case in Context
Shaw’s situation is not unique. Multiple legal residents have reportedly been detained by ICE in recent months. While some detainees have criminal records, others have been held due to paperwork errors, despite expecting to be released.
What People Are Saying
Victoria Besancon, speaking to NBC King 5, said: “Sarah had been waiting on some travel documents to be approved. But once her visa and her children’s visas were cleared, she felt comfortable taking them to Canada. We assumed everything was fine.
“The main thing Sarah has expressed throughout this ordeal is just absolute shock and devastation. She truly believed she had done everything that was required of her.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin recently stated on immigration enforcement: “The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice—they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported. The United States taxpayer is generously offering free flights and a $1,000 to illegal aliens who self-deport using the CBP Home app. If they leave now, they preserve the potential opportunity to come back the legal, right way. The choice is theirs.”
What’s Next
Shaw has not yet appeared on ICE’s inmate detainee locator. Friends and her legal team are urging the agency to release both her and her son.
