A New Zealand woman who is being held at a US immigration centre with her six-year-old son after they were detained crossing the Canada-US border, is being wrongly “treated like a criminal”, according to her friend and advocate.

Sarah Shaw, 33, a New Zealander who has lived in Washington state for just over three years, dropped her two eldest children to Vancouver airport on 24 July, so they could take a direct flight back to New Zealand for a holiday with their grandparents.

When Shaw attempted to re-enter the US, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detained her and her youngest son, in what was a “terrifying” ordeal, said Victoria Besancon, Shaw’s friend who is helping to raise money for her legal fight.

“Sarah thought she was being kidnapped,” she said. “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.”

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[–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)

These pricks will do anything to fill their bullshit quotas. I hope they choke on them

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  • 6 comments in c/news@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 40 points 1 year ago

    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.

    Ugh way to make it sound like there've only been a handful of people this has happened to. I think I read a report a few weeks back which said how many Canadians were being actively detained by the US at this time, and it was easily 50-something people.

    It is OUTRAGEOUS that the US is detaining people without cause. Where is the international outrage as each country's citizens are needlessly treated like criminals??

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  • [–] 24 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    “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”.

    from what can be understood it's such an awful mishap of the things, but they definitely didn't need to go so harsh on her

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    You're forgetting that the cruelty is the point.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    It really is. They could have let her keep her phone, told her the paperwork wasn't in order and asked her to find a flight out or return her to the last entry: canada.

    There was zero need for anything else. So all that extra cost for what? The only logical answer is to be cruel.

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  • [+] -24 points 1 year ago* (2 children)
  • 4 comments in c/worldnews@aussie.zone view that post
    [–] 12 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    She works in a prison

    "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."

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  • 3 comments in c/world@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 126 points 1 year ago

    Don't go to the USA.

    Even if you're convinced their jackboots will spare you. It's not worth the risk, they'll target you for anything they like.

    Maybe you're not quite white enough, maybe you liked a Facebook post criticising their government, maybe you've got an unamerican sounding name. Maybe you just weren't deferential, weak and obedient enough when they spotted you trying to come through the airport.

    They will target you and send you to their concentration camps. If you're lucky you'll eventually be sent home with no physical injuries and just PTSD.

    Don't go to the USA. It's just not worth it. There are far nicer places to visit that aren't fascist hellholes.

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  • [–] 56 points 1 year ago

    And they wonder why we don't wanna cross the border anymore...

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  • [–] 54 points 1 year ago

    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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  • 2 comments in c/usa@lemmy.ml view that post
    [–] 11 points 1 year ago

    It’s so heartbreaking now to see people who, like Sarah, are not only legal, but who are contributing to American society,” she said, adding that the situation is taking a huge financial and emotional toll on Shaw and her son.

    All immigrants contribute to society. They come here to work. Undocumented folks literally cant use social benefits but still pay taxes on every purchase so they literally contribute more than documented immigrants.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    are locked in their shared bedroom from 8pm to 8am

    you mean the fucking cell?

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