WELLINGTON – New Zealand‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the number of New Zealanders held in United States detention or facing immigration difficulties has risen to a new high of 39, as Washington intensifies border controls that include searches of electronic devices and social media accounts.
The figures matter for travellers because MFAT’s Safe Travel advisory notes the United States has strict entry and stay rules, warns of increased scrutiny at the border, and says most visitors now need to register with U.S. authorities if staying more than 30 days.
- 39 New Zealanders were recorded as detained or encountering immigration difficulties, according to MFAT.
- 29 sought MFAT assistance in the 2024-25 financial year.
- A further 16 cases were recorded in a subsequent six‑month period; MFAT notes these counts reflect only people who contacted the ministry.
- More than 900 New Zealanders overstayed U.S. visas in 2024, based on the latest available figures attributed to the White House.
MFAT warns travellers may encounter greater scrutiny at the US border.
Photo: RNZ
MFAT caseload reaches new high
MFAT records show 29 New Zealanders sought help over border or visa problems in the 2024-25 financial year. The ministry also reports a further 16 cases during a later six‑month period. The counts capture only those who contacted MFAT, and they span different timeframes, so they are not directly comparable.
MFAT officials say the caseload reflects a mix of short‑term visitors, dual nationals and long‑term residents who have run into problems ranging from incomplete documentation to alleged breaches of visa conditions. Consular staff can raise welfare concerns with U.S. authorities and provide advice to families in New Zealand, but they cannot overturn decisions made by American border agencies under U.S. domestic law.
Individual cases highlight border scrutiny
New Zealander Sarah Shaw and her six‑year‑old son were released after three weeks in a detention centre in Texas following a paperwork issue when she arrived from Canada. In a separate case, New Zealand‑born reggae artist Lotima Nicholas Pome’e, known as General Fiyah, was detained in the United States and deported before he could perform at Polyfest.
MFAT has pointed to such incidents as examples of how even travellers who believe they are fully compliant with entry requirements can face prolonged questioning, detention and removal if U.S. officials are not satisfied with their documentation or travel history. The ministry is urging New Zealanders to carry printed evidence of their onward travel, accommodation and legal status, and to ensure they can access passwords or proof of ownership for electronic devices should they be inspected.
Policy backdrop in the United States
Officials in Washington have stepped up border controls, including searches of electronic devices and social media accounts. These measures sit within the wider U.S. immigration and border‑security framework, including the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which gives authorities broad powers at ports of entry to refuse admission, cancel visas and authorise expedited removal.
New Zealand is part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows short stays for tourism and business but also places travellers under pre‑screening systems and real‑time checks of travel histories. MFAT notes that heightened enforcement, tougher overstay monitoring and increased data‑sharing between agencies mean New Zealanders who breach conditions – or who are perceived as higher‑risk – are more likely to be stopped, questioned or turned around at the border.
What MFAT is telling travellers
MFAT’s Safe Travel website advises increased caution due to safety and security issues and notes the United States’ strict entry and stay rules. It also says there is now a requirement for most visitors to register with U.S. authorities if they are staying more than 30 days, typically through advance travel authorisation and confirmation of their arrival and departure records.
The advisory stresses that entry to the United States is at the discretion of U.S. officials, even for travellers who hold a valid visa or electronic travel authorisation. MFAT is encouraging New Zealanders to check the latest guidance on its Safe Travel site before departure and, where travel plans are complex or involve work, study or performance commitments, to seek formal advice on the appropriate visa category from U.S. authorities or qualified immigration advisers. Additional background on MFAT’s approach to the protection of New Zealanders in detention is set out in its updated policy framework for the humane treatment of detainees in offshore deployments.
MFAT’s advisory remains in effect, stating that travellers may encounter greater scrutiny at the U.S. border and that most visitors staying more than 30 days are required to register with U.S. authorities. The ministry says it will continue to monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy and adjust its public advice if the risk profile for New Zealand travellers changes.
