Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a 21-year-old Wisconsin State Trooper, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. Law firm Christopher & De León stated that officers took him into custody while he was waiting to board a domestic flight.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE arrested the trooper during a targeted enforcement operation. An ICE database shows Van Der Merwe is currently held at a detention facility in Juneau, Wisconsin, located in Dodge County.
Arrest at Dane County Regional Airport
Van Der Merwe told the arresting officers that he possessed a valid work permit and a pending asylum application. According to his legal representation, the officers replied that they did not care, placed him in handcuffs and shackles, and transported him to the Dodge County detention facility.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and its State Patrol Division confirmed they are aware of the situation involving Trooper Van Der Merwe. He has been employed with the State Patrol since July 13, 2025. He lives in Onalaska and works out of Tomah.
Conflicting Claims on Legal Status
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Van Der Merwe entered the United States legally in March 2019 with permission to remain until September 2019. In defiance of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his admission,
a DHS spokesperson said in a public statement, adding that he will receive due process during removal proceedings.
Conversely, attorney Marc Christopher stated that his client came to the United States legally as a child from South Africa and has waited seven years for an asylum interview. Christopher noted that Van Der Merwe is included on his father’s pending asylum application and holds federal work authorization valid until 2030.
Did You Know? Wisconsin State Patrol hiring requirements expressly permit noncitizens with valid work authorization to serve as troopers.
ICE detains Wisconsin State Patrol trooper. Attorney slams 'brazen' arrest https://t.co/NyfPwokyGP
Attorney plans bond request for detained trooper
Attorney Marc Christopher announced plans to seek his client’s release on bond, a legal process that is likely to take two weeks. Christopher criticized the detention as inhumane and despicable,
arguing that imprisoning a state trooper with an unresolved asylum case fails to improve community safety.
Expert Insight: ICE says it is going after people who break the law,
Christopher said. Here, it has detained someone whose job is to uphold it.
DHS defended the operation by pointing to a policy shift regarding air travel for individuals in the country without legal status. This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport,
the DHS spokesperson said.
ICE arrests state trooper over overstayed admission
Why was Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe detained by ICE?
ICE arrested the 21-year-old state trooper during a targeted enforcement operation at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison while he was waiting to board a domestic flight. The Department of Homeland Security stated that he overstayed his March 2019 admission.
If he's here illegally, that is against our laws. Our laws need to be upheld.
Where is Trooper Van Der Merwe currently being held?
An ICE database shows he is being held at a detention facility in Juneau, Wisconsin, located within Dodge County.
What is the status of his work permit and immigration paperwork?
According to his lawyer, Van Der Merwe holds a valid federal work authorization that expires in 2030 and is included on his father’s pending asylum application, for which they have waited seven years.