Minda Thorward: Sarah Shaw's lawyer says it's unclear how long it will take Shaw and her son to be released from US immigration facility

New Zealand Embassy staff have made contact with Sarah Shaw - the Kiwi woman being detained along with her son at a US immigration facility.

The pair were detained on the Canadian border three weeks ago.

Shaw's lawyer Minda Thorward says she's using every legal process she can to get the pair out - but it's ultimately up to DHS.

"We're hoping that they're just going to release her and her son later this week - although they may still remain in proceedings. But we're still just waiting to find out what's going to happen."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Together due to see Eli.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yeah, there isn't it ironic that one of the world's
most performative politicians is refusing to be accountable because it
would be performative. Steve Nail's it eighteen past five. Now listen,
we've got more for you on the New Zealand woman
Sarah Shaw and her six year old son currently in
an IC detention center. New Zealand embassy staff have made
contact with Sarah, but we still don't know when she
may be released. Minda Thorwood is Sarah's US immigration lawyer

(00:25):
and with US. Himanda, Hi, thanks for having me on. Yeah,
thanks for joining us. Listen. How long, realistically is it
going to take you to get her out?

Speaker 1 (00:34):
You know, I actually can't answer that question. I mean,
I'm working with well, I am working to get her
out and using a real legal process they can, but
it's ultimately going to be up to DHS. We're hoping
that they're just going to release her and her son
later this week, although they may still remain a removal proceedings.

(00:54):
But we're still just waiting to find out what's going
to happen.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Okay, have foreign affairs been helpful as in, like our
new Zealand helpful in this.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
I have not been working with them directly, but some
of the government officials here, elected officials have gotten involved
in her case. Senator Patty Murray's office and Reporck Larsen
here at Washington had been working on her case. And
I believe Rick Larson's office. I can't honestly can't remember

(01:23):
one of those two is now in touch with the embassy.
I've talked to so many people and so many reporters,
I'm starting to lose loose track of some of it.
So I believe the New Zealand Embassy is involved now,
but I haven't been directly in touch with them.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Are they helpful in I mean, to have the New
Zealand Embassy getting in touch and whying, you know, putting
their white on this. Does that help?

Speaker 1 (01:47):
I mean anything helps? I mean, any attention or any
political pressure, pressure from other nations, anything, I mean, all
of that is I mean, I think that all of
that is absolutely helping. We had a u CIS interview
earlier today, you know, with respect to Sarah's Penning petition,
and I don't think things would have happened that quickly

(02:08):
had there not been so much media attention and pressure
from you know, elected officials and the embassy.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Now, this is obviously the case of a woman who
does live in Washington State, so she is residing. But
does this kind I mean should people Should travelers to
the US be wary of having exactly the wipe?

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Oh? Absolutely this I would, you know, now, more than ever,
it's essential that everybody have the correct travel documents that
they do not stay beyond their allotted visa time. We've
just had such an uptick in you know, draconian enforcement
of immigration laws, and unfortunately, I've seen this happen you know,

(02:48):
many times where you know, I mean, probably not the
same thing here, but I you know, I had some
you know, you know, twenty year old kid who happens
to forget he has half of an edible cookie coming
from Canada, and that's been immigration attention for a month
until we can send them home to Germany. You know,
I mean, it's just that kind of thing where simple

(03:08):
mistakes result in basically being incarcerated for indefinite periods of time.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Menda, thank you for your time, beast of luck with it,
and keep us abreast of it, obviously. Mendethilwood, US Immigration lawyer.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
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