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 Biden-era humanitarian parole program, allowing individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to live and work in the U.S., has been terminated by the Trump administration. This decision affects hundreds of Haitian immigrants in Wisconsin who legally entered under the program, many employed in vital sectors like food processing. The immigrants, facing deportation, had undergone background checks and secured U.S. sponsors, but now face extremely limited options for legal residency. The termination has caused widespread fear and uncertainty within the affected community, with children expressing concerns about deportation.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered the departure of over 500,000 citizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, reversing a Biden-era policy granting them temporary protected status. This decision, which is expected to face legal challenges, terminates the “humanitarian parole” program that allowed these individuals to remain in the U.S. for two years. The Trump administration cites concerns about fraudulent claims and negative impacts on American workers, while offering financial assistance for voluntary departures. The reversal follows a Supreme Court ruling upholding the suspension of the program.
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Undocumented parents, Juan and Maria, were deported to Mexico with their five children, including a 10-year-old US citizen daughter undergoing brain cancer treatment. Their deportation followed a routine trip to a Houston hospital for the daughter’s ongoing care, where they were detained at a Border Patrol checkpoint despite having previously crossed it without issue. The family, who had lived in the US for over a decade and had no criminal record, now desperately seeks humanitarian parole to allow at least one parent to return with their daughter for continued treatment. The parents’ choice to remain with their children rather than separate ultimately resulted in their removal, highlighting the difficult choices faced by mixed-status families.
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John Q. Hosedrinker