DODGE COUNTY, Wis. —
A Wisconsin state trooper was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Dane County Regional Airport on Thursday.
It happened during a targeted ICE operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, is being held at an immigration detention center in Dodge County.
Attorney Marc Christopher is seeking Van Der Merwe’s release on bond, which is likely to take two weeks. He is calling on DHS to support his immediate release and on Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to scrutinize the decision to detain him.
WISN 12 News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security after learning about the detainment from Christopher.
There are some differences in their details that 12 News is working to clarify.
12 News has also contacted the Wisconsin State Patrol, which has not responded to questions.
Entering the country
Attorney
Van Der Merwe came to the United States from South Africa legally as a child and has waited seven years for an asylum interview while boarding a domestic flight, according to his attorney.
Christopher said the family “followed the legal process and have waited seven years for an asylum interview. He is included on his father’s pending asylum application and holds federal work authorization bearing an expiration date in 2030.”
DHS
DHS states that Van Der Merwe entered the United States in March 2019 with permission to stay until September 2019.
“In defiance of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his admission,” DHS said in a statement to 12 News. “This illegal alien will receive due process and remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”
Working as a state trooper
Attorney
Van Der Merwe wanted to serve the U.S. Since his pending immigration status prevented him from joining the military, he chose law enforcement, according to his attorney.
Van Der Merwe graduated from New Mexico Military Institute with a degree in criminal justice and became a Wisconsin state trooper a year ago.
He lives in Onalaska and works out of Tomah. His attorney said state patrol allows noncitizens with valid work permits to serve. Someone at the Tomah branch did not answer questions Friday.
According to Van Der Merwe, “the officers said they did not care, placed him in handcuffs and shackles, and transported him to immigration detention in Dodge County.”
“ICE says it is going after people who break the law. Here, it has detained someone whose job is to uphold it,” Christopher said in a news release.
DHS
“To be clear: work authorization does not confer legal status in the United States,” DHS said in a statement to 12 News.
This is a developing story. Stay with WISN 12 News for the latest information.