Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who were detained by immigration officers in Minnesota and held at a facility in Texas, have been released following a judge's order. Their return to Minnesota was confirmed by Texas Representative Joaquin Castro on Sunday. The father and son were initially detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 and taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
Katherine Schneider, a spokesperson for Congressman Castro, stated that both Liam and his father had arrived home and that Castro picked them up from Dilley on Saturday night and escorted them back to Minnesota the following day. The case gained public attention after images surfaced showing immigration officers surrounding young Liam, who wore a blue bunny hat and carried a Spider-Man backpack, which sparked outrage over the Trump administration’s immigration policies in Minneapolis.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin remarked that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not specifically target the boy. According to her statement, the boy's mother allegedly refused to take him after his father's detention, while the father insisted on keeping Liam with him. There are accusations against federal officers for allegedly using the child as “bait” to lure his mother outside by instructing him to knock on their door, which DHS has vehemently denied, labeling it an “abject lie.” DHS contends that Adrian Conejo Arias fled on foot, leaving Liam in a running vehicle in their driveway.
The government also stated that Adrian entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in December 2024, and according to the family’s attorney, he has a pending asylum claim that allows him to remain in the U.S. The Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review has shown no scheduled future hearings for the father.
Asylum-seekers, particularly from Ecuador, have faced significant challenges, with judges granting asylum in only 12.5% of cases in the 12 months leading up to September, due to increasing violence in Ecuador. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery criticized the government for its actions, noting that the case stemmed from “ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas,” highlighting concerns over the impact on children.
Following Liam’s release, residents of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, gathered outside the home where he was detained to celebrate and advocate for the release of others still in ICE detention. Many expressed emotional relief upon hearing about Liam’s return. One resident, Lourdes Sanchez, shared her joy and concern, as her son shares the same name and age as Liam. Other neighbors, like Luis Zuna, brought attention to their own struggles, as his 10-year-old daughter and her mother remain detained in the same facility.
In the spirit of support, Congressman Castro penned a heartfelt letter to Liam while they were en route to Minnesota. He praised the boy for moving “the world” and emphasized the importance of immigrants in America’s development, encouraging Liam not to let anyone tell him otherwise. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar also welcomed Liam back, stressing that he should be in school and with family instead of in detention, while U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar posted a photo of herself with Liam, his father, and Castro welcoming him home.
Columbia Heights Public Schools expressed optimism regarding Liam’s release, hoping it would lead to positive outcomes for four other students from their community still held in detention. The overall sentiment among supporters was one of hope and determination as they celebrated a small victory in a much larger, ongoing struggle for families facing similar circumstances.
