A tragic turn of events unfolded at the northern border when Sarah Shaw, a dedicated juvenile rehabilitation professional at Echo Glen Children’s Center, and her 6-year-old son were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon reentering the United States from Vancouver, British Columbia. The family was returning after dropping off her two older children at the Vancouver International Airport for a flight to New Zealand.
According to the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), representing Shaw and other state employees, the detention stemmed from “incorrect information about their visas.” A GoFundMe page created by a family friend adds that when Shaw requested humanitarian parole, she was falsely told it had already been denied.
Despite Shaw’s status as a lawful employee and resident, ICE has not filed formal charges, according to the GoFundMe. The labor union describes conditions at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, where Shaw and her son are being held, as “horrible,” and has called for their immediate release.
WFSE President Mike Yestramski voiced concern:
“The trauma this has already caused for her and her son may never be healed. But our union stands ready to help and support them in any way possible.”(wfse.org)
Shaw’s employer, Echo Glen Children’s Center, is a state-run medium/maximum-security facility for juveniles. Her occupation highlights the jarring contrast between her public service role and her current predicament.
This incident follows several similar high-profile cases, including the temporary detention of U.S. citizen children at Peace Arch Park and a family from Seattle detained at the border after visiting relatives.
As of now, ICE records have not confirmed Shaw’s detainment. The WFSE continues its campaign not only for her and her son’s release, but also in backing a GoFundMe aimed at supporting legal representation to resolve the situation.
