By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A New Zealand woman, Sarah Shaw, and her six-year-old son are being held at a US immigration center after being detained at the Canada-US border, a situation her friend describes as akin to being treated like a criminal. Shaw, who holds a “combo card” visa, was detained while attempting to re-enter the US after dropping off her other children. Her friend claims border officials could have filed for humanitarian parole instead of detaining her and her son, and that her youngest child is being detained “illegally.” The case reflects broader concerns about immigration practices, with Shaw’s union calling for her release and highlighting the emotional trauma of her situation.
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The story of a New Zealand woman and her six-year-old son being detained for three weeks by ICE in the US is, frankly, appalling, a terrifying ordeal, as many have described. The fact that this happened to someone with an employment visa and a pending visa application, someone who had been living in the US for three years, is deeply concerning.
This New Zealand woman, let’s call her Shaw, holds a “combo card” visa, combining an employment visa obtained through her work at a juvenile facility and an I-360 visa, a type of visa available to survivors of domestic violence. Her employment visa had been recently renewed, and she was waiting for the I-360 visa to be approved. It seems there was a misunderstanding, a bureaucratic hiccup, about the status of her visas when she attempted to re-enter the country after a trip to Canada.
The question everyone seems to be asking is: why? Why detain a woman, a mother, who was legally employed, with her youngest child? Why did they not simply address the visa issue without separating her from her family? It seems particularly egregious when all of Shaw’s other children have had their I-360 visas approved. There are serious questions as to why Border officials did not file for humanitarian parole rather than detaining her.
The whole situation raises questions about the attitude and actions of ICE and other immigration enforcement agencies. Many believe it seems like a deliberate exercise of power and control, an instance of cruelty. It’s not just about the individual; it’s about the message it sends to anyone considering visiting or living in the US. It’s a chilling thought that the US might not be a safe place to travel or work.
It’s difficult to ignore the broader political context. Some see this as part of a larger pattern, suggesting that the US immigration system has become overly punitive and bureaucratic. There’s a sense that the system is designed to make life difficult for immigrants, treating them as potential criminals rather than people seeking a better life or, in Shaw’s case, fulfilling a crucial role in society.
The legal process for Shaw has apparently been convoluted and difficult to understand. Anyone can break travel rules by simply not understanding the visa terms, and it seems unfair and unjust to assume an immigrant has bad intentions.
The frustration and anger are palpable. Some are expressing a deep sense of shame, not just at the actions of ICE, but at the direction they see the country heading in. The fact that this is happening to someone who is Caucasian adds another layer of complexity, as many wonder if it’s just another indication of the lack of common sense in the system.
The impact on international travel and tourism is likely to be significant. If the US is perceived as a place where people can be detained without just cause, where the rules are unclear and the consequences are severe, then many will simply choose to go elsewhere. International students, in particular, may rethink their plans, creating a significant economic impact.
The situation involving Shaw and her son highlights the human cost of these policies. It’s a reminder that behind every statistic, there are real people with families, lives, and hopes. It is a story that warrants investigation, scrutiny, and, hopefully, a just resolution for Shaw and her son.