After Release from ICE Custody, Father Details Son's Illness and Detention Ordeal
A father has publicly described the distressing details of his five-year-old son's detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a federal judge's decision to order their release from a South Texas family detention center. The case of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, has drawn national attention, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and the treatment of families in custody.
The family's ordeal began on January 20 in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, when ICE agents detained Conejo Arias, an asylum seeker from Ecuador, as he returned home with his son from preschool. A photograph of Liam standing alone in the snow wearing a bunny-eared hat during the arrest circulated widely, making the child a symbol for critics of aggressive deportation operations.
Last week, Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) visited Liam at the Dilley detention facility. She reported the child was ill, lethargic, and being mistreated, allegations that intensified public scrutiny. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery subsequently ordered the pair's release, criticizing the government's handling of the case as "ill-conceived and incompetently implemented" and taking aim at "daily deportation quotas."
In an exclusive interview with ABC News during their flight home Sunday, Conejo Arias shared his account. He stated that Liam developed a fever, vomited, and became listless while detained. "We asked for medication, but we were told they didn’t have any," he said, describing conditions as "not great." These claims contradict statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which initially denied the child was sick.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the agency's actions in a statement, asserting, "ICE did NOT target or arrest a child." The department claimed Conejo Arias "fled on foot—abandoning his child," and that officers attempted to place Liam with his mother, who they said refused custody. Conejo Arias vehemently denied abandoning his son, telling ABC, "I love my son too much. I would never abandon him." Neighbors have suggested the boy's pregnant mother was too fearful of being detained herself to leave their home.
Judge Biery noted that Liam and his father could still ultimately be returned to Ecuador but urged that any such outcome follow "a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place." Conejo Arias expressed his desire to remain in the U.S. with his family, stating they fled Ecuador out of fear and that their asylum case is pending. His first court hearing is scheduled for late February.
The case underscores the complex and often contentious nature of immigration enforcement, particularly concerning families and children. It raises persistent questions about medical care in detention facilities, the protocols for handling minors during enforcement actions, and the broader human impact of immigration policy.
Reaction & Analysis
Maria Chen, Immigration Attorney: "This case is a stark reminder of the systemic failures in our immigration detention system, especially regarding children. Judge Biery's language was unusually pointed, signaling deep judicial concern. The conflicting accounts between the family and DHS highlight a critical lack of transparency and accountability."
David P. Miller, Policy Analyst at a D.C. Think Tank: "While the emotional narrative is powerful, we must also consider the operational realities for ICE officers enforcing laws passed by Congress. The legal process for asylum is lengthy, and detention, while regrettable, is sometimes a necessary component of ensuring individuals appear for their hearings."
Rebecca Ortiz, Child Welfare Advocate: "A five-year-old getting sick in custody and allegedly being denied proper medication is an absolute failure of moral and legal duty. This isn't about policy nuances; it's about basic humanity. We are traumatizing children, and the long-term psychological cost will be borne by them and our society." [Emotional/Sharp]
Professor James Keller, Political Science: "The viral image of the child framed the public perception, but the subsequent legal and factual dispute illustrates the polarized nature of immigration debates. This incident will likely fuel further legislative proposals regarding family detention standards and ICE oversight."