New Zealand Woman Held By ICE For Weeks Along With Six-Year-Old Son: 'Treated Like a Criminal'

A New Zealand woman claims she is being unfairly held by ICE with her six-year-old son after being detained while attempting to re-enter the U.S. from Canada.

The woman in question is Sarah Shaw, who has lived in Washington state for more than three years. Speaking to The Guardian, she said she crossed to Canada to drop off her two eldest children at the Vancouver airport so they could take a flight to New Zealand to stay with their grandparents.

When attempting to enter the U.S. again she was detained with her son. Victoria Besancon, a friend of Shaw's who is helping raise money for her legal fight, described the incident as "terrifying."

"They didn't really explain anything to her at first, they just kind of quietly took her and her son and immediately put them in like an unmarked white van," she said. Shaw's phone was confiscated and both she and her son were taken to a processing center in South Texas.

The outlet explained that Shaw was living in the U.S. on what is described as a "combo card" visa: one obtained through employment and another one, the I-360, which grants immigration status to survivors of domestic violence. She only realized that the latter part had not been fully approved. Her son's was, and because of that Besancon said he is being held "illegally."

"She gives therapy and counselling to some of our most at risk youth ... and to be treated like a criminal herself has just been absolutely devastating," Besancon said.

Shaw's case is among many others that have made headlines throughout the Trump administration. In mid-July, an Irish tourist who overstayed his visa three days as a result of a health issue was prevented from leaving the country by ICE and detained for roughly 100 days.

Another high-profile case involved Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney, who was detained over an incomplete visa in March.