A Woman from New Zealand and Her Son Detained by ICE at the U.S. Border

• Sara Shaw and her son were detained by ICE at the U.S. border.
• The woman works as a consultant for youth and has legal status.
• The family demands her release, highlighting the negative consequences of the detention.

A woman from New Zealand, Sara Shaw, and her six-year-old son were detained on July 24, 2025, while attempting to cross the border between Canada and the U.S. They were returned to the U.S. after Sara left her two older children in Vancouver so they could visit their grandparents.

After their detention, they were transferred to an immigration processing center in Dilley, Texas, where the conditions of detention are described as horrific. According to Sara's partner, Victoria Bezankon, the woman thought they had been released, but she and her son were placed in a non-descript white van, not explaining the situation.

Sara Shaw, who works as a consultant for youth in a facility for minors, had a temporary immigration document, but became a victim of administrative error. She did not receive formal documents for her release and was unable to provide evidence of her legal status. She and her son are the only English-speaking individuals in the center, which further complicates the situation.

The family, which represents Sara's interests, the Washington Federation of State Employees, demands her release, stressing that the trauma caused by the detention could have lasting consequences. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand confirmed that it maintains contact with the family, but cannot comment on the details of the case due to confidentiality issues.

Tags: USA/Politics