Judge Orders Release of Five-Year-Old Detained by ICE, Condemns 'Cruel' Pursuit of Deportation Quotas
A federal judge in Texas has ordered the release of a five-year-old boy and his father from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, delivering a scathing rebuke of the agency's conduct as driven by a "lust for unbridled power." The pair, detained in a controversial operation last month, have now returned home to Minnesota.
Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were taken into custody on January 20 in Minnesota. Images of the child, wearing a bunny hat and a Spider-Man backpack during the arrest, circulated widely, fueling public anger and drawing scrutiny to ICE's enforcement methods. The family's lawyer, Marc Prokosch, states they entered the U.S. legally from Ecuador in 2024 to seek asylum and were following established immigration protocols.
In a three-page order, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, appointed by President Bill Clinton, mandated the release of the detainees. He condemned the operation's genesis in what he called an "ill-conceived and incompetently implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatising children." Judge Biery further wrote that for some, "the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency." He drew historical parallels, comparing current policies to grievances against King George III cited in the Declaration of Independence.
The case has highlighted tensions surrounding aggressive immigration enforcement. ICE has disputed the family's account, claiming in a statement on X that the father "ABANDONED his child as he fled" and that officers ensured the boy's safety. The Department of Homeland Security has labeled descriptions of the boy being used as "bait" an "abject lie."
Meanwhile, the administration defends its stance. Vice President JD Vance, visiting Minnesota amid protests, argued that parental status should not shield individuals from arrest for violating laws. White House Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller has cited a target of 3,000 immigration arrests daily. The enforcement push in Minnesota has resulted in thousands of detentions and the fatal shootings of two American citizens, whom officials have linked to altercations with agents.
Voices from the Public:
"This ruling is a rare beacon of humanity in a system designed to dehumanize. That judge called it exactly right—this is about unchecked power, not safety or law. My heart breaks for that little boy and every child terrorized by these raids." — Elena Rodriguez, elementary school teacher and community advocate in St. Paul.
"Absolute judicial overreach. The judge's language is hysterical and unprofessional. ICE followed procedure with a non-compliant migrant. If you don't want your kid caught up in this, don't break our laws. It's that simple." — Mark Thorton, small business owner from Dallas.
"As an immigration attorney, I see the chilling effect of such tactics daily. Using a child? It undermines any claim of procedural integrity. This case will be cited for years to show how far enforcement has strayed from due process and basic decency." — Dr. Anika Patel, professor of immigration law at Georgetown University.
"They release them now, but the trauma is permanent. That boy in his Spider-Man backpack—that image will define this administration's cruelty for me. What are we, a nation that hunts children?" — Carlos Mendez, social worker and former asylum officer.