US News

ICE detains Wisconsin trooper at Madison airport amid disputed legal status

Attorneys and DHS give conflicting accounts of Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe's immigration status after his airport detention.

Published Nov 6, 2026 · 23:47 UTC3 reports

The short version

ICE detained Wisconsin state trooper Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe on Thursday at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, DHS said.[NBC News · ABC News]
Attorneys say he came from South Africa as a child, has a pending asylum application, and holds a work permit expiring in 2030.[ABC News]
DHS says he entered legally in March 2019 but overstayed his permitted stay that ended in September 2019.[NBC News · ABC News]
His attorney, Marc Christopher, will seek release on bond and called the arrest inhumane and despicable; the case outcome is not yet known.[NBC News · ABC News]

ICE detained Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, 21, on Thursday while he waited to board a domestic flight at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison.[NBC News · ABC News]
Attorneys say Van Der Merwe came from South Africa as a child, has a work permit valid through 2030, and has a pending asylum application.[ABC News]
DHS says Van Der Merwe entered the U.S. legally in March 2019 with permission to stay until September 2019 and overstayed that permission.[NBC News · ABC News]
DHS states that work authorization or a pending asylum application does not confer legal status in the U.S.[NBC News]
Attorney Marc Christopher says he will seek Van Der Merwe's release on bond and called the arrest inhumane and despicable.[NBC News · ABC News]

Whether the work permit and pending asylum application affect his immigration status is disputed, with attorneys and DHS presenting conflicting accounts.[NBC News · ABC News]
The outcome of the bond request and the removal proceedings is not yet known.[ABC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.