Sarah Shaw with her son, Henry Sarah Shaw, a 33-year-old New Zealander, and her six-year-old son were in for a nightmare three-week adventure. They were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The messy legal reasoning aside, the pair was arrested while trying to re-enter the United States after entering Canada through an unauthorized border crossing. Shaw has been a resident of Washington state for more than three years. They carry a “combo card” visa, combining both an employment visa and an I-360 visa, made to supply immigration condition for survivors of residential violence.
The issue became even more intense when Shaw was arrested, even after having recently received a letter acknowledging her visa extension. Because her I-360, a component of her visa, is still pending approval, this is where she finds herself today. Shaw and her son remain detained at the New Orleans immigration center. Advocates say that they’re illegal. Advocates and diplomats alike have sounded the alarm about their detention.
Shaw’s employer, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), has vocally demanded her release. Along with the WFSE, we agree that Shaw—who is undoubtedly a valuable and productive member of our community—shouldn’t be treated this way. Victoria Besancon, her friend and one-time advocate, called essay submission “terrifying.” She highlighted the emotional cost it has imposed on the mother and child.
“It’s so heartbreaking now to see people who, like Sarah, are not only legal but who are contributing to American society.” – Victoria Besancon
Besancon also claimed that Shaw’s youngest son is being held “illegally,” since his I-360 visa has already been approved. This raises questions about the treatment of individuals within the immigration system, particularly those who have legal standing in the U.S. Shaw’s two eldest children have already received their I-360 visas. We took particular pleasure in the fact that they are now on an extended holiday in New Zealand, adding to their stress.
New Zealand’s foreign affairs ministry has endorsed such calls. They remain in communication with Shaw, they are not able to provide additional information due to privacy issues. This groundbreaking development sheds further light on the still-ongoing challenges faced by foreign nationals when attempting to unpack the gauntlet that is U.S. immigration law.
Shaw’s ordeal is representative of the larger, systematic flaws that plague our immigration system. Advocates argue that the treatment of individuals like Shaw, who are legal residents contributing to society, is not only unjust but reflects poorly on the immigration enforcement process.
Mike Yestramski, a steadfast supporter of Shaw, on the transformative power of this experience. Perhaps most importantly, he hopes it will make indelible impressions on Shaw and her son.
“The trauma this has already caused for her and her son may never be healed.” – Mike Yestramski
Beyond the emotional trauma, according to government reports, the physical environment inside immigration detention camps is often extreme. Thousands of people have sent comments detailing their experiences, which they say feel like incarceration.
“It really is kind of like being in jail … it has been absolutely devastating and it’s kind of barbaric.” – Anonymous source
As the situation develops, advocates continue to push for Shaw’s release, emphasizing the need for reforms within the immigration system to prevent such cases from occurring in the future. This case sheds much-needed light on the struggles immigrant families face today. It is a gentle awakening to the vast obstacles they face back home in the United States.