A five-year-old boy and his father returned to Minnesota after a highly publicized ICE detention case. The case drew national attention and sparked protests outside the Texas detention center where authorities held them. Congressman Joaquin Castro confirmed their release and safe return. He said, “Liam is home now with his hat and his backpack.”
Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were detained at their Minneapolis-area home. ICE agents transferred them over a thousand miles to Dilley, Texas. School officials said agents approached Liam as he returned from pre-school and asked him to knock on the door. Adults offered to take custody, but officers refused. ICE said they acted to protect the child and that the father chose to stay with him.
The family’s lawyer said Liam and his father, originally from Ecuador, followed all legal procedures to seek asylum. They presented themselves at a port of entry, used the CBP One app, and attended all appointments. They posed no flight risk. After several days, a U.S. federal judge in San Antonio ordered their release immediately. The judge criticized policies that keep children in detention and called them harmful.
Congressman Castro traveled to Texas to accompany the family on their flight home. He said Liam struggled emotionally while separated from home, school, and classmates. Community members gathered to welcome them back to Minneapolis. Minnesota lawmakers, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, praised the family’s safe return. They criticized current immigration enforcement practices and urged reforms to protect children.
The ICE detention case has reignited debates about U.S. immigration policies. Advocates argue children should not remain in detention. The case highlights the tension between enforcing immigration laws and protecting families. The family is now home, and officials say they will continue following their asylum claim through the legal system.
