Five-Year-Old Boy and Father Released from ICE Custody in Texas, Return to Minnesota

A five-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Texas and returned to Minneapolis following a federal judge's order. Their detention on January 20 in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, and subsequent transfer to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, sparked legal challenges, protests, and concerns about immigration enforcement practices and detention facility conditions.

Detention Incident

On Tuesday, January 20, Liam Conejo Ramos, a preschooler, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were detained by ICE agents in their driveway in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, as they returned home from school. They were subsequently transported to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.

Accounts of the detention vary:

Conflicting Accounts Emerge

• Family, School Officials, and Legal Representatives: State that Liam and his father have an active asylum case, entered the U.S. in 2024 at an official port of entry using the CBP One app, and have no criminal record or deportation order. They reported that an agent led Liam to his front door, directing him to knock to check for other occupants. Another adult at the home requested to take custody of Liam, but this request was denied. Liam's father denied abandoning his son, stating he was attempting to alert others for help, and his mother did not open the door due to fear of her own arrest. The father later alleged his son fell ill in federal custody and was denied medicine.

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE: Stated that ICE conducted a "targeted operation" to arrest Liam's father, described as an "illegal alien" from Ecuador. They denied targeting a child, alleging that the father "fled on foot – abandoning his child." DHS reported that an ICE officer remained with the child for safety, and officers attempted to have Liam's mother take him, but she reportedly refused custody. DHS also stated the father expressed a desire for Liam to remain with him. DHS maintained that the father entered the U.S. illegally in December 2024 and had no record of using the CBP One app.

Transfer and Detention Conditions

Liam and his father were held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, located approximately 85 miles from the Mexico border. This facility, operated by CoreCivic, is currently the only family detention center in the U.S. It was closed in 2024 and reopened last year.

Reports from various sources described conditions at the Dilley facility:

• Many individuals detained there, including families, reportedly entered the United States legally as asylum seekers or were checking in with authorities.
• Detainees reported protests over bugs in food and lights being kept on 24 hours a day.
• Texas health authorities confirmed two measles cases at the facility, leading ICE to implement quarantines for some individuals.
• Allegations of medical neglect were reported by detainees, including a child with appendicitis receiving care after several days, and a child with Hirschsprung's disease being denied a special diet.

Leecia Welch, Chief Legal Counselor at Children's Rights, described conditions as "worse than ever," noting a significant increase in children, many detained for over 100 days, and reports of malnourishment and illness.

DHS and CoreCivic stated that the health and safety of those in their care is a top priority, and medical staff meet high standards. The administration acknowledged in December that approximately 400 children had experienced extended detention, beyond the recommended 20-day limit under the Flores Settlement Agreement.

On January 28, Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited Liam and his father at the Dilley facility. Liam's father reported that the boy was frequently tired, not eating well, and was asking about his mother and classmates.

Judicial Intervention and Release

A federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the immediate deportation or transfer of Liam and his father from the judicial district in Texas. On Saturday, January 30, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered their release "as soon as practicable," no later than the following Tuesday.

In his ruling, Judge Biery criticized the government's actions, stating 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."

On Sunday, January 31, Liam and his father were released from ICE custody and returned to Minneapolis. Representative Joaquin Castro accompanied them from Dilley to Minnesota. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Amy Klobuchar also welcomed their return.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

Following their return, DHS filed for removal proceedings for Liam's family. While initially described as potentially expedited, DHS clarified it was a standard procedure. An immigration judge later granted a continuance (postponement) in their asylum case, allowing their attorney additional time to respond to a motion filed by DHS. The family's immigration status in the United States remains unresolved. Liam's father has expressed a desire to remain in the country with his family, citing fear of returning to Ecuador.

Broader Immigration Enforcement Context

The detention of Liam and his father occurred amid increased federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik reported that Liam was one of at least four students from her district detained by federal agents in recent weeks. Other detentions included a 17-year-old student, a 17-year-old high school girl and her mother, a 10-year-old student and her mother, and two brothers (second and fifth grade) with their mother.

Other Cases of Concern in Minnesota

• Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano: The 10-year-old student, Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, and her mother, Rosa Elena Caisaguano Cajilema, both from Columbia Heights, were detained on January 6 and held at Dilley. Elizabeth's father was available to take custody but was reportedly refused. Elizabeth and her mother were released on Tuesday, February 3, after nearly a month of detention, following a federal judge's order and advocacy from school officials and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Elizabeth was reported to be experiencing flu-like symptoms and her mother developed hives upon release.
• Elvis Tipan-Echeverria: A father, Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, and his 2-year-old daughter were detained in Minneapolis and flown to Texas despite a court order for the child's release. The child was later returned to her mother in Minnesota, while the father remains in custody.
• Amalia: An 18-month-old child, Amalia, and her family, arrested in El Paso in December after seeking asylum, were also detained at Dilley. Amalia's health reportedly declined significantly, leading to hospitalization for severe respiratory issues. After discharge, she was returned to Dilley but allegedly denied prescribed medication. Amalia and her family were later released following an emergency habeas corpus petition.

The Columbia Heights school district, which primarily serves immigrant families, reported a significant drop in attendance, with approximately one-third of students absent on one day, attributing it to fear among families. Superintendent Stenvik expressed concern about the impact on students and the community's sense of safety.

Thousands protested ICE operations in Minneapolis on January 23, with approximately 700 businesses closing in solidarity. A separate protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport resulted in the arrest of 100 clergy members.

The events in Minnesota occurred in a broader context of immigration enforcement, including an incident on January 7 where an ICE agent shot and killed U.S. citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis, an act classified as a homicide by autopsy, with no charges or suspension for the officer involved.

The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, called on U.S. authorities to end the "harmful treatment of migrants and refugees."