Wisconsin State Trooper Detained by ICE, Released; Asylum Case Cited
A Wisconsin State Trooper, identified as Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, and has since been released. His attorney stated he is from South Africa,…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, November 7, 2026 — A Wisconsin State Trooper, identified as Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin. He has since been released.
Van Der Merwe’s attorney indicated that the trooper is from South Africa and entered the United States legally as a child. According to the attorney, Van Der Merwe has been awaiting an asylum interview for seven years.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Van Der Merwe overstayed his admission to the U.S. Further details regarding the timeline of his admission or the specific nature of his overstay were not provided.
Reports indicate that Congressman Derrick Van Orden was involved in the case, with his office reportedly intervening. The specifics of this intervention were not detailed.
The incident occurred at Dane County Regional Airport. Van Der Merwe, who serves as a State Trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol, was detained by ICE officials. Following his detention, he was released. The circumstances leading to the detention and the subsequent release are part of an ongoing immigration process.
No information was provided regarding any potential legal proceedings beyond the pending asylum interview, the exact date of detention, or the specific process followed by ICE. The length of Van Der Merwe’s employment as a State Trooper was also not specified.
Story summarized from the original created by Ryan Pattee on kstp.com, see more information here.
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