Minnesota Boy, 5, Returns Home After Release from Immigration Custody
A five-year-old boy, whose image in a blue hat and Spider-Man backpack became a potent symbol in the nation's immigration debate, has returned to Minnesota with his father after their release from federal custody over the weekend.
Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 20 outside their home in Minnesota. Their detention, following a routine trip home from Liam's preschool, ignited widespread condemnation and placed a spotlight on the enforcement practices of U.S. immigration authorities.
The pair were subsequently transferred to a family detention center in Texas. Their case gained momentum after visits from congressional representatives, including Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, who reported that the young boy had been "very depressed" and not eating well in custody.
Their release came after a sharply worded order from U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who mandated the Trump administration free them by Tuesday. "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," Judge Biery wrote.
Rep. Castro personally escorted the father and son back to Minnesota on Sunday. "Liam is now home," Castro stated on social media. "With his hat and his backpack. Thank you to everyone who demanded freedom for Liam. We won’t stop until all children and families are home."
Contested Narratives
The circumstances of the initial arrest remain contested. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents were conducting a "targeted operation" to arrest Conejo Arias. A DHS spokesperson stated that Liam was found "abandoned" and that his mother had refused to claim custody, leading the father to agree to keep his son with him in detention.
Liam's mother, Erika Ramos, vehemently denies this account. She told Telemundo that agents used her son as "bait," having him knock on the door to lure her outside while she feared arrest. "It all seemed like an attempt to provoke me," she said through tears, adding that her husband insisted she stay inside to protect their family.
This version was corroborated by a local school board official who witnessed the encounter, stating there was "ample opportunity to safely hand that child off to adults" present at the scene.
The family's attorney, Marc Prokosch, emphasized that the family had entered the U.S. legally in 2023 using the CBP One app—a Biden-era program designed to create an orderly process for asylum seekers. "They were following all the established protocols... They never should have been detained," Prokosch said.
Reaction & Analysis
The case underscores the ongoing tensions and human costs of U.S. immigration policy, even for those attempting to follow legal pathways. It raises critical questions about enforcement tactics involving children and the discretion used in family detention.
What people are saying:
"This is a moment of relief, but not victory. A child should never be a pawn in immigration enforcement. This case exposes a system that too often defaults to cruelty over compassion." — David Chen, Immigration Policy Analyst at the Great Lakes Institute.
"The judge's order was a necessary check on executive overreach. However, the fact that it took a federal court order to release a five-year-old who posed no risk is a damning indictment of the process." — Anya Sharma, Constitutional Law Professor.
"Absolute disgrace. DHS's story doesn't add up. Using a kindergarten kid as bait? Detaining a family that followed the rules? This isn't 'law and order,' it's institutionalized bullying that traumatizes children." — Mark Russo, Small Business Owner and community advocate.
"While every case is tragic, we must remember that enforcement actions are complex. Officers follow protocols to ensure safety. The legal entry claim needs thorough vetting, as the system is abused by many." — Linda Fitzgerald, Former Federal Prosecutor.
This report is based on original reporting from NBC News.