# Wisconsin State Trooper Detained by ICE Faces Deportation A state trooper is held by immigration authorities despite holding a valid work permit. - **Source:** [ABC News – Top Stories](https://abcnews.go.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/49ca17de-7889-4baa-8545-8c6b2c1bc3c7 ## Trooper Detained at Airport Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a 21-year-old Wisconsin state trooper, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Thursday. The arrest occurred at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison while he was waiting to board a domestic flight. He is currently being held at a detention facility in Juneau, Wisconsin. ## Conflicting Legal Claims Van Der Merwe’s legal counsel asserts that he possesses a valid work permit expiring in 2030 and has a pending asylum application. Conversely, the Department of Homeland Security claims he entered the country legally in March 2019 but overstayed his authorized admission period, which expired in September of that same year. ## Targeted Enforcement Operation The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest was part of a targeted enforcement operation at the airport. Officials stated that the individual will receive due process while remaining in custody during removal proceedings. The agency emphasized that this action aligns with current policies regarding individuals who have overstayed their legal admission. ## Policy Shift and Rhetoric A DHS spokesperson stated that the administration has reversed previous policies that allowed individuals in the country illegally to travel domestically. The agency declared that it will no longer tolerate such movement, asserting that unauthorized individuals should only be permitted to fly if they are leaving the country to self-deport. ## Legal Defense Strategy Attorney Marc Christopher, representing the trooper, has publicly condemned the detention as inhumane and despicable. He intends to seek his client's release on bond immediately. Christopher argues that detaining a law enforcement officer while his asylum case remains unresolved does not contribute to the safety or security of Wisconsin communities. ## Long-Term Asylum Status According to his legal team, Van Der Merwe arrived in the United States legally as a child. He has reportedly been waiting seven years for an asylum interview to be conducted. This extended administrative delay highlights the complexities facing individuals caught in the backlog of the American immigration and asylum adjudication system. ## Political and Community Impact The detention of a state trooper has prompted calls for intervention from Wisconsin’s congressional delegation. Supporters are demanding both his release and official answers regarding the circumstances of his arrest. The case underscores the tension between federal immigration enforcement priorities and the status of individuals integrated into local law enforcement. ## Future Legal Proceedings As Van Der Merwe remains in ICE custody in Dodge County, the case will proceed through formal removal hearings. The outcome will likely hinge on the validity of his asylum application and the specific legal status of his work permit. Observers are monitoring the situation to see if bond will be granted. ## Sources covering this story - https://abcnews.com/US/wisconsin-state-trooper-detained-ice/story?id=137922819 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._