Everlee Wihongi, a 37-year-old New Zealand woman, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since her return to Los Angeles from New Zealand on April 10, 2023. Her family claims she is held in a room with 46 other detainees for 22 hours a day. Wihongi, who holds a green card, was detained due to a historic conviction for possession of marijuana dating back over a decade, despite having traveled in and out of the US multiple times without issue. Her family is appealing to the New Zealand government for assistance, urging Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters to intervene. Peters stated that Wihongi had not declared her prior conviction on immigration paperwork and emphasized that the process must be followed. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is providing support but cannot influence US immigration decisions. Wihongi faces an additional six weeks in detention, with a recall date set for June 10. This case is part of a broader trend of increasing detentions and deportations at the US border.