ICE Detains Wisconsin Trooper at Domestic Airport

WHO:

WISN - Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, is a Wisconsin state trooper.

WISN - Attorney Marc Christopher is seeking Van Der Merwe’s release on bond and asking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support his immediate release.

WISN - DHS said Van Der Merwe “will receive due process and remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”

ABC News - Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, was detained while waiting to board a flight.

NBC News - Attorneys said Van Der Merwe came to the United States legally as a child from South Africa and is included in his father’s asylum application.

WHAT:

WISN - ICE detained Van Der Merwe during a targeted operation at an airport as he was boarding a domestic flight; he is being held at an immigration detention center.

WISN - Christopher said the family “followed the legal process and have waited seven years for an asylum interview.” He said Van Der Merwe holds federal work authorization expiring in 2030.

WISN - DHS said Van Der Merwe entered with permission to stay until September 2019 and “overstayed his admission.” DHS added, “work authorization does not confer legal status in the United States.”

WISN - Van Der Merwe graduated from New Mexico Military Institute with a degree in criminal justice and became a Wisconsin state trooper a year before the article.

WISN - Christopher said Van Der Merwe could not join the military because of his pending immigration status, so he chose law enforcement.

WISN - Christopher said Van Der Merwe reported that officers handcuffed and shackled him and transported him to immigration detention.

WISN - Christopher said, “ICE says it is going after people who break the law. Here, it has detained someone whose job is to uphold it.”

WISN - Christopher said seeking bond was likely to take two weeks. He called on Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to scrutinize the detention.

WISN - DHS and Christopher provided differing details; WISN said it was working to clarify them. The Wisconsin State Patrol had not responded to questions.

WHERE:

WISN - The detention occurred at Dane County Regional Airport in Wisconsin.

WISN - Van Der Merwe is held at an immigration detention center in Dodge County.

WISN - Van Der Merwe lives in Onalaska and works out of Tomah.

WHEN:

WISN - DHS said Van Der Merwe entered the United States in March 2019 with permission to stay until September 2019.

WISN - Van Der Merwe’s work authorization expires in 2030.

WISN - Christopher said the family had waited seven years for an asylum interview and that release on bond was likely to take two weeks.

WHY:

WISN - DHS said Van Der Merwe was detained because he overstayed his permitted admission.

WISN - Christopher said Van Der Merwe’s pending immigration status prevented him from joining the military, leading him to pursue law enforcement.

(UPDATED November 7, 2026 00:00 UTC)

ICE detained Wisconsin state trooper Carel Van Der Merwe while he boarded a domestic flight in Dane County. DHS says he overstayed his permitted admission and will remain in immigration custody during removal proceedings. His attorney is seeking bond; Van Der Merwe’s family has waited seven years for an asylum interview.