New Zealander Freed After 70 Days in ICE Detention
After more than two months in detention over a dismissed cannabis charge, New Zealand mother Everlee Wihongi has been released and reunited with her family. Her case shows how outdated records can trap people in the immigration system, but also proves that persistence and legal advocacy can win freedom.
Everlee Wihongi walked free from ICE custody on Saturday after 70 days of detention that her family calls a nightmare that should never happen again.
The 37-year-old New Zealander was stopped in April when returning to Wisconsin from a family vacation in New Zealand, despite living in the United States for decades with a valid Green Card. Immigration officials detained her over an old cannabis possession conviction that was thrown out last week.
Her lawyer Marc Christopher confirmed the good news Friday when a court accepted a joint motion to dismiss all removal proceedings. "The government has agreed with our position that they no longer have a basis to hold Everlee," he told reporters.
Wihongi's mother Betty rushed to the airport to pick up her daughter, overcome with relief after the longest two months of their lives. "We're just so happy that we're gonna see her after over 70 days," she said before their reunion.
The family planned a simple celebration: a meal together, plenty of hugs, and helping Everlee reconnect with normal life after her detention ordeal.
During her detention, Wihongi endured cramped and crowded conditions while being transferred between facilities in California, Texas, and Arizona. She was shackled during a 1,400-mile transport, sleeping on concrete and wondering when she'd see her family again.
Why This Inspires
Wihongi's release represents more than one family's relief. It highlights how legal advocacy can correct injustices in the immigration system, even when someone faces removal over charges that no longer exist.
Her lawyer's persistence in arguing that authorities had no legal basis to hold her eventually convinced the government to agree. The court's quick acceptance of the dismissal motion shows the system can self-correct when advocates push for what's right.
Betty's determination to share their story, despite the pain, means other families won't feel alone if they face similar situations.
The Wihongi family is finally whole again, eating dinner together and rebuilding the ordinary moments that detention tried to steal.
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Based on reporting by Stuff NZ
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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