Wisconsin trooper detained by ICE at airport released from custody

A Wisconsin state patrol trooper detained by ICE at an airport on Thursday has been released from custody. Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a South African national, was approached by agents as he waited to board a domestic flight. Van Der Merwe immigrated to the US at age 14 and has waited seven years for his asylum case to be heard. He received work authorization valid through 2030, which his lawyers say allowed him to serve in law enforcement, though DHS claimed he overstayed a 2019 visa. Van Der Merwe's release is subject to electronic monitoring and regular check-ins with immigration authorities. His lawyers said the fight continues, as he must still defend his case before an immigration judge, and advised noncitizens with unresolved paperwork to consult attorneys before air travel.