Immigration Enforcement Operations Lead to Family Detentions in Texas and Minnesota
Multiple immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and Texas have resulted in the detention of families, including young children, at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. The facility, operated by CoreCivic under a federal contract, has become the subject of legal challenges, conflicting accounts of detention practices, and reports regarding conditions inside the center.
Timeline of Key Incidents
January 6: Mother and Daughter Detained in Minnesota
Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a 10-year-old student from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, and her mother, Rosa Elena Caisaguano Cajilema, were detained by federal agents. The family has an active asylum case and has been pursuing legal status. They were transferred to the Dilley facility in Texas. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued an order blocking their removal or transfer. Elizabeth and her mother were released from detention on a Tuesday evening, approximately one month after their initial detention.
January 20: Detention of Liam Conejo Ramos and Father
Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old preschooler, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the driveway of their home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The father and son were transported to the Dilley facility in Texas. Judge Biery ordered their release on January 31, mandating it occur "as soon as practicable" and no later than February 3. The pair was released on February 2 and returned to Minnesota, accompanied by U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
January 22: Detention of Toddler and Father
A 2-year-old girl, identified as C.R.T.V., and her father, Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, were taken into custody in Minneapolis. The child was flown to Texas despite a court order requiring her release by 9:30 p.m. that evening. The child was returned to Minnesota on the following Friday. A federal court order subsequently prohibited transferring the father outside of Minnesota while court proceedings are ongoing.
Late January: Detention of Two Brothers and Their Mother
Two brothers, in second and fifth grades from Columbia Heights, were detained with their mother after she was taken into custody during a court appointment for her immigration case. The family was transferred to the Dilley facility.
December 2024 to January 2025: Hospitalization of 18-Month-Old
An 18-month-old child, referred to as Amalia, was held with her parents at the Dilley facility after being arrested in El Paso, Texas. In early January, the child developed symptoms including fever, vomiting, and respiratory distress. On January 18, she was transported to a San Antonio hospital, where she received treatment for pneumonia, COVID-19, and RSV. After 10 days in the hospital, she was returned to the Dilley facility. An emergency habeas corpus petition alleged that the child was denied access to prescribed medication. Following the filing of this petition, Amalia and her family were released from detention.
Conflicting Accounts of Detention Operations
Government Statements
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have stated that operations are targeted and lawful. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that ICE did not target children during operations. According to DHS, in the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, agents were conducting an operation to arrest Adrian Conejo Arias, who DHS described as an "illegal alien" from Ecuador. DHS stated that Conejo Arias fled on foot, "abandoning his child," and that an ICE officer remained with the child for safety while other officers apprehended the father. DHS officials also stated that officers attempted to place Liam with his mother, who reportedly refused. The agency stated that parents are offered the opportunity to have their children detained with them or to designate another adult for custody.
Statements from Family, School Officials, and Attorneys
School officials and family representatives have provided differing accounts. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik stated that another adult present at the home offered to take custody of Liam but this request was denied. School officials also alleged that an agent instructed Liam to knock on the front door to check for other occupants. Adrian Conejo Arias stated that he was walking ahead of his son trying to alert others for help and denied abandoning him. Marc Prokosch, the family's attorney, stated that the family entered the United States at a port of entry to seek asylum and had no deportation order. Family representatives for Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano stated that her father was prepared to take custody, contradicting DHS statements.
Conditions at the Dilley Facility
"The health and safety of those entrusted to our care is the [company's] top priority." — CoreCivic statement
Detainee Reports
Detainees at the South Texas Family Residential Center have reported various conditions, including poor food and water quality, lights kept on 24 hours a day, and the presence of bugs and mold in meals. Joel Andre, a 17-year-old asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo held at the facility, reported that food and water quality were poor and lights remained on constantly. Attorneys reported a child with appendicitis received initial advice to take Tylenol before receiving medical care after several days.
Health Concerns
Texas health authorities confirmed two cases of measles at the facility. ICE implemented quarantines for some individuals in response. Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano's family reported that she experienced flu-like symptoms and her mother developed hives while in detention, with limited access to medical care.
CoreCivic and DHS Statements
CoreCivic, the private company operating the facility under federal contract, stated that "the health and safety of those entrusted to our care is the [company's] top priority." The company cited regular water testing, dietitian-approved meals, medical services, and noted that staff eat the same food and drink the same water. DHS has denied claims of substandard conditions, stating that all detainees are provided proper meals, water, medical care, and other amenities.
Legal Proceedings
Judicial Rulings
Judge Fred Biery of the U.S. District Court in San Antonio issued multiple orders in these cases. In the case of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, he ordered their release and stated that the case "has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children." Judge Biery also issued orders blocking the deportation or transfer of Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano and her mother, as well as Liam and his father, during the pendency of litigation.
Asylum Case Status
A DHS motion was filed in the asylum case for Liam Conejo Ramos's family. An immigration judge granted a continuance, postponing the hearing to an unspecified date. DHS Assistant Secretary McLaughlin stated the motion was standard procedure and not retaliatory. Asylum cases for the other detained families remain pending.
Broader Enforcement and Community Impact
Enforcement Statistics
U.S. Customs and Border Protection official Greg Bovino reported approximately 3,000 arrests in Minnesota over a six-week period. Texas state officers made over 3,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants in 2025. Approximately one in four ICE arrests from a recent period occurred in Texas, which has the highest concentration of immigration detention facilities in the United States.
School District Impact
Columbia Heights Public Schools reported that six students have been detained by ICE. Superintendent Stenvik reported a significant drop in attendance, with approximately one-third of students absent on one day. School officials noted that some families were choosing to stay home due to fear of enforcement activity. One school day was canceled due to bomb threats; authorities found no dangerous devices.
Protests
A protest at the Dilley facility on January 31 involved detainees inside the facility and protesters outside. Texas Department of Public Safety officers deployed chemical irritants, including pepper balls, stating that demonstrators breached a protest area and two individuals were arrested. A separate protest in Minneapolis on January 23 involved thousands of participants, and approximately 700 businesses in Minnesota closed in solidarity. Approximately 100 clergy members were arrested at a demonstration outside Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
Congressional Oversight
Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited the Dilley facility on January 28. A new DHS policy requiring seven days' advance notice for congressional access to facilities had previously prevented visits by other members of Congress. A federal judge declined to compel the administration to grant lawmakers improved access.
Policy Context
The Flores Settlement Agreement, established in 1997, requires humane treatment for children in detention and prioritizes their release.
An ICE report from December 2025 acknowledged that approximately 400 children were held longer than the recommended 20-day limit. The White House has proposed adding 30,000 more beds in family detention centers in its 2027 budget. The Dilley facility, constructed in 2014, was closed in 2024 and reopened in 2025 following a change in administration. It is currently the only family detention center in the United States.