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Woman with partial visa approval and a son who is a legal resident sent from Washington State to Texas and detained for 3 weeks by ICE.
www.theguardian.com
Ice confiscated Shaw’s phone and transported the mother and son to the Dilley immigration processing center in south Texas, many states away from her home, Besancon said. Foreign nationals caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown have similarly been transported to centres far from their homes, support networks and legal representation.
“It has been absolutely horrible,” Besancon said, adding that aside from the staff, Shaw and her son are the only English speakers, are locked in their shared bedroom from 8pm to 8am and are not allowed to wear their own clothes.
“It really is kind of like being in jail ... it has been absolutely devastating and it’s kind of barbaric.”
Shaw is on what is known as a “combo card” visa – an employment visa, which she obtained through her employment at a maximum security juvenile facility, and an I-360 visa, which can grant immigration status to domestic violence survivors.
Shaw had recently received a letter confirming her visa renewal, not realising that the I-360 element of her visa was still pending approval.
“It wasn’t until she tried to come back across the border that she realised only half of the combination card – because it’s only one physical card – had been fully approved,” said Besancon.
Border officials did not need to detain Shaw and could have filed for humanitarian parole, Besancon said. Meanwhile, all three of Shaw’s children have had their I-360 visas approved, and Besancon alleged her youngest son was therefore being detained “illegally”.
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Shaw’s case is the latest in a growing list of foreigners facing interrogation, detainment and deportations at the US border, including a British tourist, three Germans Lucas Sielaff, Fabian Schmidt and Jessica Brösche, and a Canadian and an Australian who were each held and then deported, despite having valid work visas.
New Zealand woman and six-year-old son detained for three weeks by Ice in US enduring ‘terrifying’ ordeal
Sarah Shaw, who has a US visa and lives in Washington state, was detained after attempting to re-enter US from Canada
www.theguardian.com
Ice confiscated Shaw’s phone and transported the mother and son to the Dilley immigration processing center in south Texas, many states away from her home, Besancon said. Foreign nationals caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown have similarly been transported to centres far from their homes, support networks and legal representation.
“It has been absolutely horrible,” Besancon said, adding that aside from the staff, Shaw and her son are the only English speakers, are locked in their shared bedroom from 8pm to 8am and are not allowed to wear their own clothes.
“It really is kind of like being in jail ... it has been absolutely devastating and it’s kind of barbaric.”
Shaw is on what is known as a “combo card” visa – an employment visa, which she obtained through her employment at a maximum security juvenile facility, and an I-360 visa, which can grant immigration status to domestic violence survivors.
Shaw had recently received a letter confirming her visa renewal, not realising that the I-360 element of her visa was still pending approval.
“It wasn’t until she tried to come back across the border that she realised only half of the combination card – because it’s only one physical card – had been fully approved,” said Besancon.
Border officials did not need to detain Shaw and could have filed for humanitarian parole, Besancon said. Meanwhile, all three of Shaw’s children have had their I-360 visas approved, and Besancon alleged her youngest son was therefore being detained “illegally”.
—
Shaw’s case is the latest in a growing list of foreigners facing interrogation, detainment and deportations at the US border, including a British tourist, three Germans Lucas Sielaff, Fabian Schmidt and Jessica Brösche, and a Canadian and an Australian who were each held and then deported, despite having valid work visas.
