Politics · United States · 17 hrs ago
Wisconsin state trooper released from ICE custody
ICE detained Wisconsin state trooper Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe at an airport on Thursday as he waited to board a domestic flight; he was released on Friday.
Van Der Merwe is a South African national who serves in Wisconsin law enforcement.
He came to the United States at 14 and has waited seven years for a hearing on his asylum case.
DHS said he had overstayed a 2019 visa, while his lawyers said he had work authorization valid through 2030.
His release comes with electronic monitoring and regular immigration check-ins.
The release does not end his case: he still has to defend it before an immigration judge.
His lawyers advised people with unresolved immigration paperwork to consult an attorney before flying, because air travel can lead to detention.
Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a Wisconsin state patrol trooper from South Africa, was released from ICE custody on Friday.
His release is subject to electronic monitoring and regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
ICE detained him at an airport on Thursday as he waited to board a domestic flight.
The Department of Homeland Security said he had overstayed a 2019 visa, while his lawyers said another DHS agency had authorized him to work.
Van Der Merwe has been waiting seven years for his asylum case to be heard, his attorneys said.
- Who
- Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a Wisconsin state patrol trooper and South African national.
- What
- He was released from ICE custody subject to electronic monitoring and regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
- When
- He was detained on Thursday and released on Friday; the articles were published on November 7 and 8, 2026.
- Where
- At an airport in Wisconsin; the articles do not name the airport.
- Why
- DHS said he had overstayed a 2019 visa. His lawyers said US Citizenship and Immigration Services had authorized him to work.
Department of Homeland Security
Van Der Merwe's lawyers
Visa status
Department of Homeland Security
DHS said he had overstayed a 2019 visa and that work authorization or a pending application does not confer legal status in the US.
Van Der Merwe's lawyers
His lawyers said a DHS agency, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, had authorized him to work.
ICE agents detained Van Der Merwe at an airport as he waited to board a domestic flight.
His law firm said he would be released subject to electronic monitoring and regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
- Name
- Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe
- Nationality
- South African
- Role
- Wisconsin state patrol trooper
- Detention
- ICE detained him at an airport on Thursday.
- Release conditions
- Electronic monitoring and regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
- Visa
- DHS said he had overstayed a 2019 visa.
2 sources
What people are saying
Work authorization or a pending application do not confer legal status in the US
His release is welcome news. But our fight is not over. Carel will still have to defend his immigration case before an immigration judge
dramatic experience