A federal judge has ordered the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, and the pair has now returned to their home in a Minneapolis suburb, lawmakers and local officials said Sunday.
Liam and his father were detained on January 20 after immigration agents stopped them in their driveway in Columbia Heights, just north of Minneapolis, during an enforcement action that also involved other residents in the community. (turn0news37, turn0news38)
The detention of the child, who had been seen in widely circulated photos wearing a blue bunny hat and a Spider-Man backpack, sparked national outrage and protests. School officials and family attorneys said federal agents may have used the young boy as “bait” to try to locate other relatives at the home, a claim the Department of Homeland Security has disputed. (turn0search20, turn0search27)
Liam and his father were taken more than 1,000 miles by ICE to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, where they were held while immigration proceedings continued. Their detainment added to broader public criticism of enforcement tactics and child detentions amid Operation Metro Surge and the Trump administration’s immigration policies. (turn0news9, turn0news40)
A federal judge in Texas, Fred Biery, ruled that the father and son must be released by early this week, describing the circumstances of their detention as deeply harmful and emphasizing legal concerns surrounding how the case had been handled. Biery’s decision came after legal filings argued that the family has an active asylum claim and the child should not be detained away from home. (turn0news39)
On Sunday evening, Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas personally escorted Liam and his father back to Minnesota, where they were greeted by family members and supporters. Castro shared updates on social media as the pair returned home. Leaders including Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Ilhan Omar welcomed the outcome, saying the boy “should be in school and with his family not in detention.” (turn0news37, turn0news38)
The Department of Homeland Security defended the earlier enforcement action, saying agents acted to detain Liam’s father and that the child was not intentionally targeted. DHS said one officer remained with the child for his safety during the arrest, and that parents are typically given options regarding their children in such situations, a point that has been contested by school officials and immigration advocates who argue the policies are inhumane. (turn0news40, turn0news39)
The case has continued to fuel passionate debate over U.S. immigration enforcement tactics, especially involving children and asylum seekers. It comes amid ongoing national conversation about border policy, the role of ICE, and accountability for enforcement actions that affect families and communities. (turn0news38)
Summary:
Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were ordered released from ICE custody by a federal judge after being taken into detention in a Minnesota enforcement action on January 20. Their detention, including images of Liam in a backpack and bunny hat, sparked national outrage. They have since been escorted back home to Minnesota, and lawmakers and community leaders have renewed calls for changes to immigration enforcement involving children. (turn0news37, turn0news38)