Wisconsin State Trooper Detained by ICE at Dane County Airport

A Wisconsin State Trooper, 21-year-old Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, is currently being held in immigration detention in Dodge County following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday, November 5. The arrest occurred during a targeted enforcement operation at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison while the trooper was preparing to board a domestic flight, as reported by FOX6 Milwaukee and WEAU.

Van Der Merwe, who lives in Onalaska and works out of the Tomah station, has been a member of the Wisconsin State Patrol since July 13, 2025. His legal representatives at the Christopher & De Leon Law Office state that he came to the United States from South Africa as a child and has remained in the country while waiting for an asylum interview, a process his family says they have been navigating for seven years. He currently holds federal work authorization valid through 2030.

Conflicting Views on Legal Status and Detention

The circumstances of the arrest highlight a significant friction point between individual employment status and federal immigration enforcement priorities. According to the law firm representing him, Van Der Merwe informed the ICE officers of his work permit and pending asylum application at the time of his encounter at the airport. The firm alleges that officers disregarded this information, placed him in handcuffs and shackles, and transported him to the Dodge County detention facility.

Wisconsin State Trooper from Onalaska detained by ICE https://t.co/dtG8VoiUD3

— https://x.com/MSpicuzzaMJS/status/2118759228911292876

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers a different account of the legal standing involved. DHS stated that Van Der Merwe entered the country in March 2019 with legal permission to stay until September 2019, but subsequently overstayed that admission. In their statement, federal officials emphasized that while he may possess work authorization, such documentation does not confer legal status within the United States. DHS further noted that he will remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

Administrative Policy and Legislative Intervention

The case has drawn attention to the shifting landscape of federal immigration enforcement. DHS noted that it has moved away from policies that previously permitted individuals without legal status to travel domestically by air, stating that the current administration is working to ensure such individuals can only fly if they are departing the country to self-deport. The agency encouraged individuals in similar positions to utilize the CBP Home App to facilitate their departure, citing an offer of $3,000 and a free flight for those who choose to leave voluntarily.

Political involvement in the case was immediate. Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s office confirmed that he contacted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin upon learning of the situation. According to a statement provided to WEAU, the congressman indicated that the trooper is expected to be released to address his outstanding immigration paperwork and legal status.

Wisconsin State Trooper Detained by ICE at Dane County Airport — Photo: weau.com

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which oversees the State Patrol, acknowledged the situation but provided no further details. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has declined to comment. The state’s hiring requirements for the State Patrol expressly permit noncitizens who possess valid work authorization to serve as troopers, a policy that placed Van Der Merwe in his current role for the past 16 months.

As the legal process unfolds, the case serves as a stark example of the complexities inherent in federal immigration policy, particularly when it intersects with individuals who have been granted federal authorization to contribute to the local workforce. For now, Van Der Merwe remains in detention, with his future in the state and his career with the Wisconsin State Patrol dependent on the resolution of his pending removal proceedings.