Mississippi — A Danish immigrant and father of four, Kasper Eriksen, is facing deportation after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March — the result of a paperwork oversight from nearly a decade ago.
Eriksen was taken into custody during a naturalization appointment in Memphis, a moment that was supposed to be a step forward in his immigration journey. Instead, he was flagged for failing to submit Form I-751, a required petition to remove conditions on his green card — a form that was missed back in 2015, shortly after his wife suffered a devastating stillbirth.
Despite having no criminal record, regularly paying taxes, and adhering to other immigration requirements, Eriksen now faces possible deportation to Denmark.
He is currently being held at a private detention facility in Louisiana, operated by GEO Group, a company with ties to former President Donald Trump. The facility houses nearly 100 other non-criminal immigration detainees, as mass detentions have increased under Trump’s second term.
Eriksen’s pregnant wife, Savannah, is now raising their children alone. She said ICE did not allow her or their children to say goodbye.
“This administration doesn’t care if it’s legal or not,” said the family’s immigration attorney, Nathalia Rocha Dickson, criticizing what she described as an inhumane and inflexible approach to enforcement.
A preliminary immigration hearing is scheduled for May 27, but until then, the Eriksen family faces emotional and financial hardship. Advocates argue that his case illustrates how one bureaucratic error can derail an immigrant’s life, even after years of legal compliance.
Supporters are calling for discretionary relief and greater compassion in immigration enforcement, especially for non-criminal, long-term residents with families. The outcome of Eriksen’s case could have broader implications for similar families caught in technical violations of immigration law.
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Vikas Lalit is an experienced content writer at OTE News, covering business, economy, and international affairs. With a degree in Journalism, he combines analytical thinking with engaging storytelling to deliver well-researched updates. Vikas is passionate about uncovering underreported stories that impact readers.
Outside of work, he enjoys playing chess, following cricket, and writing short stories. His commitment to integrity and in-depth analysis strengthens OTE News’ mission of providing trustworthy journalism.