A Wisconsin state patrol trooper was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, according to his attorneys and federal records. Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, was taken into custody as he waited to board a domestic flight, his lawyers said in a statement released the same day. He is currently being held at the Dodge County Detention Facility in Juneau, Wisconsin, ICE records confirm.
Van Der Merwe’s attorneys state he informed ICE officers that he possessed a valid federal work authorization and had a pending asylum application, but the officers proceeded with his detention. His legal team describes the arrest as involving handcuffs and shackles, with no consideration given to his immigration status claims.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson stated in a release that Van Der Merwe entered the U.S. legally in March 2019 but overstayed his admission period, which expired in September 2019. The spokesperson emphasized that work authorization or a pending asylum application does not confer legal status under U.S. immigration law. ICE confirmed the arrest occurred during a targeted enforcement operation at the airport.
Van Der Merwe arrived in the U.S. from South Africa as a child and has been employed as a state patrol trooper for nearly a year, his attorneys said. His work permit is valid through 2030, according to his legal representation. His asylum interview has been pending for seven years, they added.
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Attorney Marc Christopher, representing Van Der Merwe, called the detention “inhumane and despicable” and stated he would seek his client’s release on bond. The law firm Christopher & De León issued a statement asserting that Van Der Merwe’s arrest occurred despite his compliance with federal immigration processes.
The DHS spokesperson framed the arrest as part of a broader enforcement strategy, stating that the administration is working to prevent individuals who have overstayed visas from traveling domestically. The spokesperson referenced a reversal of policies from the Biden administration, asserting that current enforcement aims to ensure such individuals cannot fly within the U.S. unless departing the country.
ICE has not provided additional details regarding the circumstances of the arrest beyond confirming Van Der Merwe’s detention and current location. His case is now pending removal proceedings, with due process rights guaranteed under U.S. law.