Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old boy, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were released from an immigration detention center in Texas and returned to Minneapolis on Sunday, according to US House representative Joaquin Castro.
A Judge’s Concerns
The release followed a judge’s order on Saturday, which stated the detention stemmed from “the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.” Liam and his father were initially detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 20th.
The arrest of the five-year-old, captured in a widely circulated photo showing him in a bunny hat and plaid coat, sparked public outcry. Claims emerged suggesting Liam was used as bait in an attempt to apprehend his mother.
Conflicting Accounts
The Columbia Heights public school district stated the family has an active asylum case and no order of deportation. Superintendent Zena Stenvik questioned the detention of a young child, stating, “Why detain a five-year-old? You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.” However, the Department of Homeland Security, via a post on X, asserted the child had been “ABANDONED [sic] by his father, and the alleged mother REFUSED to take custody of her own child.”
The pair was held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, a facility intended to be less punitive than traditional jails, offering access to schooling and playgrounds. Representatives Castro and Jasmine Crockett, after visiting Liam and his father, described “gruesome conditions” and children who appeared “mentally broken” by their experiences.
The Columbia Heights school district noted that four other students are currently held at the Dilley facility and expressed hope that Liam’s release will pave the way for their release as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were Liam and his father detained?
Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were detained by ICE agents on January 20th.
Where were they held?
They were held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas.
What did the judge say about the detention?
The judge stated the case stemmed from an “ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.”
As Liam and his father return to their lives in Minneapolis, the circumstances of their detention raise questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and the protection of children and families.
