A Mississippi man and green card holder who has been in the United States for over a decade was detained at what was supposed to be a routine immigration appointment, throwing his family’s life into turmoil, according to an account from his wife.
Kasper Eriksen, a Danish national, traveled to Memphis for what he thought be the final interview in his application for U.S. citizenship on April 15, 2025.
The 31-year-old welder, who has lived legally in the United States since 2013, was taken into custody due to what the family described as a paperwork discrepancy dating back to 2015.
He has since been held at the LaSalle Detention Center, an ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana.
Eriksen’s wife, Savannah Hobart Eriksen, says the situation came about without warning.
“At 8 a.m. on April 15, 2025, we arrived in Memphis for his final interview together. There, we were met by ICE agents. Kasper was detained for a paperwork miscommunication from 2015, and I was sent home with no explanation and no idea where my husband had been transported,” she said. “I was 22 weeks pregnant at the time, and as I drove the 3-hour journey back to Sturgis, Mississippi, to say I couldn’t control my emotions would be an understatement.”
Newsweek has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
Kasper was in the final stages of the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen. As of September 12, 2024, he received an update indicating that his application (Form N-400) was actively under review, with no outstanding requirements or issues on record. Several months later, on March 7, 2025, his case progressed further when an interview for his naturalization application was scheduled, marking a significant step toward completing his path to citizenship.
Despite his compliance and long-standing legal residency, Kasper has now been detained for over a month, with no court date scheduled to review his case.
“Kasper has a long history of lawful personal and immigration behavior. Unlawful behavior is not part of his character. Detaining Kasper seems vengeful and is not morally right or rational,” Savannah said.
She says that Kasper first came to the U.S. in 2009 as a high school exchange student.
He returned legally in 2013 after marrying Savannah, an American citizen, and began the legal immigration process. Since then, the couple has built a life in Sturgis where they are raising four children, with a fifth due in August. Kasper is the family’s sole provider and works as a foreman at The Welding Works and is in the process of completing construction on the family’s home.
Savannah, who homeschools their children, described the effect of her husband’s detention as devastating.
“This situation has not only detained Kasper but also has placed an emotional, mental burden upon our children and me. The financial strain of paying our regular bills and attorney/court fees, however, we are thankful we have friends, family, and our community for their love and support.”
She also emphasized the toll Kasper’s detention has taken on their family and community, noting that his absence leaves their household without its sole source of income and stability.
She said Kasper’s detention is hurting their family, since he’s the sole provider for their children
Savannah said her husband is known in the community as a hardworking and compassionate person. “He is considered an outstanding employee with an impeccable work ethic by his employer and the employees whom he supervises. He has paid his taxes since being employed in the U.S., holds a valid driver’s license and SSN, and contributes as a valuable member of his community.”
As of May 15, Kasper’s attorneys had met with him to review parole and bond petitions, but no date has been set for his case to be reviewed.
Immigration courts are overwhelmed, with a backlog exceeding 3.7 million cases, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Asylum-seekers often wait years for a decision.
According to a recent AP/NORC poll, there’s broad support across both parties for adding judges and staff to ease the burden as President Donald Trump‘s administration is carrying out what they describe as the “largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history.”
For now, the Eriksen family continues to wait, separated and uncertain of what comes next.
“This situation has not only detained Kasper but also has placed an emotional, mental burden upon our children and me,” Savannah said. “Without [our community], my children or I wouldn’t have any hope of normalcy and wouldn’t be able to secure the attorneys who are working to get Kasper home to us.”
“While Kasper embodies all the positive qualities of a hardworking man in pursuit of the American Dream, he never forgets his family and friends. He spends time with us and takes the time to give each of his children the attention and fatherly love they deserve,” she said.
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