Wisconsin state trooper detained by ICE during airport operation
A 21-year-old Wisconsin state trooper who arrived from South Africa as a child and is listed on his father's pending asylum case was taken into ICE custody at Dane County Regional Airport.
A Wisconsin state trooper was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Dane County Regional Airport on Thursday during a targeted operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The trooper, 21-year-old Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, is being held at an immigration detention center in Dodge County.
Van Der Merwe’s attorney, Marc Christopher, said his client entered the United States from South Africa legally as a child and has been waiting seven years for an asylum interview. He is listed on his father’s pending asylum application and holds a federal work authorization that expires in 2030. Christopher is seeking bond and has asked DHS to consider an immediate release, while also urging Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to review the detention.
DHS stated that Van Der Merwe entered the United States in March 2019 with permission to stay until September 2019 and subsequently overstayed his admission. "This individual will receive due process and remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," the agency said.
According to Christopher, Van Der Merwe chose a career in law enforcement because his immigration status prevented military service. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute with a criminal-justice degree and became a Wisconsin state trooper a year ago. He is assigned to the Tomah branch and lives in Onalaska.
"The officers said they did not care, placed him in handcuffs and shackles, and transported him to immigration detention in Dodge County," the attorney said in a news release.
DHS added that a work permit does not confer legal immigration status. The Wisconsin State Patrol has not responded to inquiries. The case is ongoing.