The detention of Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a Wisconsin state patrol trooper with a pending asylum case, raises questions about the treatment of immigrants in law enforcement.
This incident has left me shaken - who knew that being a state trooper wouldn't protect you from ICE? The news that Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a Wisconsin state patrol trooper, was detained by ICE despite having a pending asylum case and valid federal work authorization is just stunning. As I read about this story, my mind keeps racing back to the what-ifs.
The Timeline
Van Der Merwe was detained at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, on Thursday. He was handcuffed and shackled by ICE officers during his detention, according to a statement from the Christopher & De Leon Law Office released Thursday and obtained by NBC affiliate WEAU . The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said that Van Der Merwe entered the country in March 2019 with legal permission to stay until September 2019. In defiance of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his admission.
Van Der Merwes Family Fled Attacks in Rural South Africa
Van Der Merwe's family fled their home in rural South Africa due to attacks targeting farmers. His father works on a sheep ranch in New Mexico. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is aware of Van Der Merwe's arrest but did not clarify whether he is on paid leave while in ICE custody.
The Next Development
What comes next for Van Der Merwe and his family? Attorney Marc Christopher, who represents Van Der Merwe, said that the arrest was “inhumane and despicable.” “Putting a Wisconsin State Trooper behind bars while his asylum case sits unresolved does not make our communities safer,” he said. In another statement, Christopher said, “Wisconsin trusts Carel to protect the public.” “DHS owes his family and our community an explanation of why keeping him behind bars is necessary,” he said.
Source: Google News
