Kiwi Everlee Wihongi has lived in the United States for more than 25 years and is now in an ICE detention centre in California, after a three week visit back to New Zealand.

Everlee Wihongi has been in US detention since the start of April.
Photo: Supplied

A New Zealand woman who is being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the US will spend another six weeks in a detention facility awaiting her next hearing with a judge.

Everlee Wihongi was taken into ICE detention when she was re-entering the US on 10 April following a family holiday in New Zealand.

Her family said they do not know why she was being held as she was travelling on a Green Card and they are all US citizens. Wihongi had a historic conviction for possession of marijuana that had been dealt with more than 10 years ago.

Everlee and her sister.

Everlee Wihongi pictured with her sister.
Photo: Supplied

Her mother, Betty Wihongi, said her daughter was pretty upset when the judge set the recall date for 10 June, meaning a further six weeks in ICE detention.

The family had been searching for a skilled lawyer and said they have not had any assistance from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Betty Wihongi said they have now retained a lawyer.

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