Everlee Will Remain Locked Up For Another Month

Hi,

Webworm is busy – I think I'll take a breather next week (if it ever lets up). I wanted to write, as Everlee Wihongi – the New Zealander kidnapped by ICE – has had her first court appearance in front of a judge just now.

I just spoke to her mother Betty about how it went.

The audio is available for you here:

Betty talking to David Farrier, April 28, 2026.

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The TL;DR:

• Because her family has been scrambling to find a lawyer who is affordable and knows what they're doing, Everlee went in front of a judge with no representation today. The judge sounded "grumpy", and Everlee got sent back to prison. Everlee's next court appearance is June 10. Chances are, she will be imprisoned until at least that date.

• As previously reported on Webworm, when Everlee was pulled aside by ICE at LAX airport nearly three weeks ago, they told her it had something to do with too many green cards. This was bullshit: It's all to do with a prior conviction over marijuana use 10 years ago (which had been dealt with).
• June 10 means Everlee would have spent about nine weeks incarcerated.

I have transcribed key pieces from my conversation with Betty below.

Thank you for following this story, and caring. Sure – it's a niche example of a New Zealander in ICE custody, but it speaks to so many things: ICE's power to detain, the United States' inherent racism, and the strength of an individual caught in an increasingly unhinged, deranged regime that has Pete Hegseth (the "Secretary of War" wtf) proudly letting Kid Rock lecture soldiers about the Strait of Hormuz (I am not joking).