Wisconsin state trooper released after ICE arrest

UPI ^ | 11/08/2026 | By Danielle Haynes

[Responsibility2nd]

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement have released from custody a Wisconsin state trooper originally from South Africa, his lawyers said.

Attorney Marc Christopher said Trooper Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, was arrested Thursday at Dane County Regional Airport, WKOW-TV in Madison, Wis., reported. He was boarding a domestic flight to visit family in New Mexico at the time of his arrest.

Van Der Merwe was born in South Africa, and his family immigrated to the United States legally seven years ago. He has waited that time for an asylum interview, Christopher told WISN-TV in Milwaukee.

He was released about 24 hours after his arrest. Christopher said he must be monitored by an electronic device and check in regularly with ICE.

"His release does not erase what he and his family have been through," Christopher said Friday.

"There is still no explanation by [the Department of Homeland Security] detained him or why exactly he is now being released. Those are the answers we seek and Carel and his family and work community deserves.

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TOPICS: Government; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: ice

[Responsibility2nd]

Wisconsin state trooper released from ICE custody after ‘dramatic’ arrest

Attorney Marc Christopher says the trooper entered legally as a child and has federal work authorization, while DHS says he overstayed his admission.

 

• On Friday, Wisconsin state trooper Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, a day after agents detained him at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison.
• ICE maintains Van Der Merwe overstayed his admission after entering legally from South Africa in March 2019, though his authorized stay expired in September that year.
• Attorney Marc Christopher claims agents told Van Der Merwe they "did not care" about his work authorization and pending asylum application before shackling him during his travel to New Mexico.
• Rep. Derrick Van Orden contacted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding the case, while Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association president James Tobin called for fair treatment and due process.
• The Department of Homeland Security stated that work authorization does not confer legal status, and Van Der Merwe remains subject to removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

[servo1969]

7 years.

Get out.

[Deaf Smith]

A alien that overstayed legal authorization became a state trooper and was able to purchase firearms?

At minimum, charge him for falsifying form 4473 while a trooper.

[Theoria]

Background checks and obeying the law are for suckers.

[Vermont Lt]

How the hell did he get on the WI State Police? At 21?

Even in MA you have to be a legal permanent resident for that to happen.

[Theoria]

Dam, you don’t even have to be a US citizen and only need to be 18.

[gunnut]

If you are not a permanent resident alien (green card) you are generally not allowed to possess a firearm under federal law. How is this guy a trooper?

[Fury]

Depends on the asylum program he entered under.

Previous administrations interpreted the law differently on if an immigrant had to leave the US prior to the asylum interview. Obviously that interpretation to stay or leave is discretionary on the part of the Executive branch.

[riverrunner]

Wisconsin troopers are issued their firearms.

They don’t buy Them.

This is all about destroying the rule of law.

No foreign national should be hired by any police department as an officer.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Perhaps he thought he’d get a pass for being an African.

[Delta 21]

“His release does not erase what he and his family have been through,”

What him and his family has been through does not erase any crimes they might have committed while here illegally.