Judge Orders Release of 5-Year-Old and Father from ICE Custody Amid Heated Asylum Dispute
MINNEAPOLIS — A five-year-old boy and his father were released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody over the weekend following a federal judge's order, but not before a high-profile dispute erupted between the Trump administration and the family's legal team over whether they have a legitimate asylum claim.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a Sunday television appearance, flatly denied that the Ecuadorian nationals—Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias—have a pending asylum application. "That is not true," Blanche said on ABC's "This Week." "There's a very meaningful dispute about whether they had properly applied for asylum." This stance aligns with the Department of Homeland Security's previous characterization of the family as being in the country illegally.
The family's attorneys, however, maintain they have an active asylum claim in process, which permits them to remain in the U.S. while awaiting a court decision. The pair were detained in Minneapolis last month when the father picked his son up from school, an operation that drew swift condemnation from immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers.
Legal and Political Crossfire
The release came only after U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie issued a ruling demanding the administration free the child and his father within 72 hours. The family was subsequently released from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, on Saturday.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) personally escorted the family back to Minnesota, posting a heartfelt letter on social media addressed to the young boy. "Don't let anyone tell you this isn't your home," Castro wrote. "America became the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth because of immigrants not in spite of them." Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also welcomed the family's return, posting a photo with them and declaring, "Liam is home now."
The case highlights the ongoing, bitter legal debate central to the Trump administration's immigration policy: whether individuals who cross the border without authorization should be detained throughout their proceedings. Blanche argued that unauthorized presence itself constitutes a crime, stating, "We very strongly believe that they should be held."
Voices from the Community
Maria Rodriguez, Immigration Attorney (Minneapolis): "This case is a stark reminder of how the system fails the most vulnerable. A child should never be a bargaining chip in a political debate. The judge's order was a necessary correction, but the trauma inflicted is real."
David Chen, Policy Analyst at Center for Law & Justice: "The conflicting narratives from officials and the family's lawyers point to a deeper systemic issue: a lack of transparency and coordination in tracking asylum applications. It erodes public trust and leaves families in legal limbo."
Janice Harper, Small Business Owner (St. Paul): "It's an absolute disgrace. We're using taxpayer money to detain a kindergarten student? The Deputy AG's cold, legalistic dismissal of their case shows a complete lack of humanity. This isn't law and order; it's cruelty for political theater."
Rev. Michael T. James, Community Leader: "While we give thanks for Liam's return, our work isn't done. This incident should compel us to re-examine the principles of dignity and due process at the heart of our nation's immigration framework."
The release may have ended this chapter of the family's ordeal, but the fundamental legal conflict over detention policy for asylum-seeking families remains unresolved, setting the stage for further courtroom battles.