A New Zealand woman and her six-year-old son have returned home to Washington State after spending three weeks in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Sarah Shaw and her son, Isaac, were detained due to a clerical error while traveling from Canada.

Shaw, 33, has lived in Washington for three years and holds a valid work permit under a "combo card" visa. However, the portion of her visa that provides immigration status for victims of domestic violence was still under review. On July 24, she traveled to Canada to drop off her two older children at Vancouver International Airport for a visit with their grandparents. Upon her return to the U.S., she was detained by immigration officials in Blaine.

The family was taken to a South Texas immigration processing center, where they were confined in a room with five other families. A family friend described the facility as "comparable to jail." During their detention, they were locked in their room from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., had limited contact with the outside world, and were not allowed to wear their own clothes. Shaw reportedly stated that they did not even have underwear.

Victoria Besancon, a family friend, shared that Shaw struggled with anxiety during their time in custody. "Sarah has really been struggling with her anxiety. She’s been trying to stay positive for her son, but it’s been incredibly difficult for them," Besancon said.

Now back in Washington, the family is taking time to adjust after their ordeal. Shaw works for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, where she provides counseling and runs programs for youth at a maximum-security juvenile facility in Snoqualmie.