Kasper Eriksen, a 31-year-old Danish immigrant and father of four, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a scheduled naturalization interview, after living in the U.S. legally for over a decade.
Eriksen, a welder with no criminal record, has lived in Mississippi with his American wife and children since 2013. His detention stems from a missed immigration filing — Form I-751, due in 2015 — which was overlooked as the couple grieved the stillbirth of their first child.
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ICE considers Eriksen to be in the country illegally, citing a missed immigration court hearing in 2019 and a final deportation order. He was taken into custody on April 15 and transferred to the LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana, where he remains without a scheduled court date.
His wife, Savannah, a stay-at-home homeschooling mother, said the detention has placed intense emotional and financial stress on the family. Friends and community members have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the Eriksens with legal and living expenses.
A DHS spokesperson defended the detention, stating, “This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.” However, supporters argue Eriksen is a contributing member of the community with a valid Social Security number, driver’s license, and consistent tax history.
