<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Washington state mother and her six-year-old son have been released after spending </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-zealand-mother-son-made-brief-trip-to-canada-spent-weeks-detained-by-ice/f1d233bb-92c9-4ca1-97d2-b2b6fc0fc55c" rel="" target="_blank" title="more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada"><span>more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada</span></a><span> and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn't want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health/health-news-australian-made-drug-arg007-shows-promising-results-in-brain-injury-treatment/2aae4b11-800e-45fa-b823-6f3de9c5a445"><strong><span>Australian-made drug shows promising results in concussion treatment</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Shaw didn't realise the travel permit that allowed her to exit and re-enter the US had expired.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That's when Shaw and her son, whose immigration documents were valid, were taken into custody by CBP.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw tried to get a humanitarian parole, which would have allowed her to enter the US and return home, but she was denied, her attorney said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/new-zealand-mother-detained-by-ice-after-canada-trip-released/a2cbce8d-7e5f-4f38-899c-5759f76e34e9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw then asked if her boyfriend or a friend could pick up her son since his documents were up to date, but she was again denied, Thorward said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, roughly 3218km from their home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw's detention is among the latest examples of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which, despite pledges to focus on violent criminals, has also swept up lawful residents like Shaw.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw arrived in the US as a tourist in 2021 and married a citizen that year. Shortly after, the marriage ended, and she filed an I-360 petition in April 2022, her lawyer told CNN.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her application remains under review after multiple delays.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bedfordale-murder-charges-laid-over-perth-grandfathers-mystery-carpark-death/66f7efbb-fb9c-4687-9a6f-13b6c72c35db"><strong><span>Murder charges laid over grandfather's mystery carpark death</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw had been living in the US under a "combo card," a dual document that serves as both a work permit and travel document.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She secured the permit through her job working for Washington state, her lawyer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When it came time to renew both parts of the combo card, Shaw paid to have the work permit renewed, but didn't renew the travel permit "because she didn't have any plans for travel at that time and it's expensive," Thorward said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In June, Shaw received confirmation of her work permit renewal, but mistakenly believed it also extended her travel authorisation – a "minor administrative paperwork error" – according to her lawyer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She had completely re-established herself. She had a full-time job, an apartment, adopted a dog, a new boyfriend, and the kids were in school and doing great," Thorward said. "She made a mistake, but she has no previous convictions – none. This is a very clean case."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw told Thorward the Department of Homeland Security said she may be released on Friday, but Thorward said she has not received any direct updates from authorities. CNN has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding Shaw's case.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New Zealand's foreign affairs ministry said it was in contact with Shaw but declined to provide further details for privacy reasons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Set to begin a master's program in psychology this month at Northwest University, Shaw is worried about whether she will be released from detention in time, her lawyer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thorward said border officials had the discretion to grant Shaw humanitarian parole rather than detaining her.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was not necessary, inappropriate and inhumane (to detain Shaw and her son)," Thorward said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She's lawfully in the country. She's been doing everything in good faith."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement to CNN, a CBP spokesperson said that individuals with expired parole trying to re-enter the US would be detained in compliance with immigration laws.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If they are accompanied by a minor, CBP will follow all protocols to keep families together or arrange care with a legal guardian," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/esta-visa-australian-travellers-returning-from-us-falsely-accused-of-overstaying-exclusive/2c5863d5-658a-48f2-a0ea-511fccaf6431" rel="" target="_blank" title="The Australian travellers returning from US accused of overstaying ESTA visas"><strong><span>The Australian travellers returning from US accused of overstaying ESTA visas</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>A facility for migrant families</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A friend of Shaw's, Victoria Besancon, told CNN Shaw has spent three weeks in a cramped detention facility, feeling "incredibly isolated."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Each room contains 5 to 6 bunk beds, and rooms are locked from 8pm to 8am," Besancon told CNN, adding that she has been able to phone Shaw daily and recently video chat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Besancon said they were among the few English speakers in the facility.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw's son has been "very sad he lost his summer vacation to being locked in the facility."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shaw has used commissary funds to buy him ice cream and colored pencils to make him feel at home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's not a lot for kids to do. Maybe some colouring books. There's no time for them to be outside," Thorward said, adding detainees were left sweltering in the South Texas heat, where summer temperatures can reach up to 97 degrees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The South Texas Family Residential Center, one of the largest of its kind in the US, primarily houses migrant women and children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After </span><a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-announces-ongoing-work-optimize-enforcement-resources"><span>closing last year,</span></a><span> it reopened in March under an agreement between </span><a href="https://ir.corecivic.com/news-releases/news-release-details/corecivic-announces-resumption-operations-south-texas-family"><span>a private prison operator</span></a><span> and ICE, with a capacity to detain up to 2400 people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other mothers who have been </span><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/02/us/family-immigration-detention-centers"><span>detained with their children</span></a><span> at family migrant facilities have similarly described their experiences as traumatic and said they will have lasting psychological effect on children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>ICE says the detention cenres are safe. On its website, the agency includes a list of safety and health standards for family residential centres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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