ICE nabs green card applicant DV survivor and son

A New Zealand woman living in Washington state was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) along with her youngest son after returning from Canada, underscoring the uncertainty many immigrants face under the Trump administration’s stricter enforcement policies.

U.S. ICE

Sarah Shaw, a mother of three awaiting approval of her green card application, was arrested with her 6-year-old son, Isaac, after dropping off her two older children at Vancouver International Airport. They were flying to New Zealand to spend time with their grandparents. Shaw had expected the brief trip across the border to be routine. A GoFundMe page set up by her friend, Victoria Besancon, explained that Shaw “fully prepared for a quick trip across the U.S.-Canadian border” and believed her documents were sufficient. While entering Canada posed no issues, U.S. officials detained Shaw and Isaac upon their return to the United States.

ICE detention

Shaw, who originally entered the United States under sponsorship from her ex-husband, is now seeking permanent residency independently through a provision designed to protect domestic violence survivors. Her application process had granted her work authorization, but she had not yet received full travel permissions, commonly referred to as a “combo card.” Isaac, however, does have travel authorization. Despite that, ICE placed both in detention. Her attorney, Minda Thorward, told NBC’s King 5 News that previous administrations likely would have paroled Shaw back into the U.S. “by Customs and Border Protection (CBP),” however, that policy has “clearly shifted under Trump.” Shaw is currently being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. Isaac remains detained as well. The detention has devastated Shaw’s community. Besancon, who launched the fundraising campaign, said Shaw works for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and had been preparing to begin graduate school. Donations have surpassed $33,000. The funds will help cover legal fees and basic expenses after Shaw “was forced to burn through savings for legal representation.”

Paperwork

Shaw’s case is part of a broader trend in recent months, with legal residents also finding themselves detained. While some detainees have criminal records or visa violations, others maintain they were caught up in paperwork delays and should be released. Speaking to NBC, Besancon 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

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended its policies. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “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 $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.”

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