UPDATE: A five-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, are back in Minnesota after being detained by ICE and subsequently held in Texas. The father-son duo returned home on January 28, 2026, following a court order for their release.
Texas Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro played a crucial role in facilitating their return. He picked up Liam and Adrian from the detention center in Dilley, Texas, late Saturday night and flew back with them early Sunday morning. “Liam is now home,” Castro posted on social media, sharing a heartwarming image of the boy wearing his signature hat and carrying a Spiderman backpack.
The family’s ordeal began on January 20, when ICE agents detained them as they returned home from preschool in a Minneapolis suburb. Reports indicated that agents used Liam to lure Adrian outside, which has drawn widespread condemnation. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik criticized the tactics, describing them as “using a 5-year-old as bait.”
While the Department of Homeland Security called this claim an “abject lie,” stating that Adrian had abandoned Liam in a running vehicle, the images of the young boy surrounded by agents sparked outrage across the nation. This incident follows a tragic pattern of aggressive ICE actions, including the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good as she attempted to evade agents.
Pressure for their release intensified after Reps. Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited the detention center. They found Liam in distress, lethargic, and calling for his mother. The family, originally from Ecuador, entered the U.S. in 2024 and is seeking asylum, with no active removal orders against them.
In a powerful ruling, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery emphasized the need for humane treatment, quoting the Declaration of Independence and biblical texts to underscore his decision. He stated, “Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds.”
Biery’s ruling included a poignant photograph of Liam, further illustrating the emotional toll of this case. He referenced the biblical message, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,’” highlighting the moral implications of the situation.
The release of Liam and Adrian marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over immigration policies and the treatment of families by U.S. authorities. The public outcry and political pressure surrounding their case reflect deep concerns about current immigration enforcement tactics.
What’s Next: Observers will be watching closely for any further developments in the family’s asylum case and how this incident may influence broader immigration policy. The emotional impact of their release resonates widely, as communities grapple with the implications of such actions on families seeking refuge in the U.S.
