Wisconsin trooper released from ICE custody after 'dramatic experience'

Key Points:

• Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a 21-year-old Wisconsin State Patrol trooper born in South Africa, was detained by ICE on Nov. 5 while traveling with a valid work permit and released from custody on Nov. 6 under supervision requiring regular check-ins and likely electronic monitoring.
• Van Der Merwe's attorney, Marc Christopher, criticized ICE for detaining a law enforcement officer legally authorized to work, calling the action "brazen" and unnecessary, and highlighted the family's ongoing seven-year wait for their asylum case.
• ICE claims Van Der Merwe overstayed a visitor's visa entered in 2019, arguing that work authorization or pending applications do not confer legal status, a point strongly disputed by his attorney who maintains the family has been lawfully waiting for adjudication.
• Van Der Merwe was detained after TSA allegedly tipped off ICE at the Dane County Regional Airport, raising concerns about ICE's use of resources and airport arrests, which have also affected other immigrants in the region.
• The attorney hopes this case prompts legislative changes to ICE’s operations, criticizing the use of taxpayer money to detain individuals like Van Der Merwe who have legal work authorization and are pursuing lawful immigration processes.