Young Boy Released After Controversial Immigration Detention in Minneapolis
A five-year-old boy whose detention during aggressive immigration raids in Minneapolis sparked international outrage has now been returned to his home, according to statements from a U.S. congressman. The child's release follows a federal judge's scathing criticism of what he called an "ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented" government pursuit of deportation quotas.
Traumatic Arrest and International Attention
Liam Conejo Ramos, along with his father Adrian Conejo Arias, were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on January 20, 2026, as the boy arrived home from preschool in a Minneapolis suburb. The family are asylum seekers from Ecuador who had been living in Minnesota.
Images of the young boy wearing a blue bunny hat and backpack while being held by officers circulated globally, adding fuel to public outrage over federal immigration enforcement tactics. The case gained particular attention as it occurred during a broader immigration crackdown that has resulted in the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents.
Ten Days in Detention and Judicial Intervention
The father and son spent ten days in a detention center in Texas, hundreds of miles from their Minnesota home, before U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered their release on Saturday. During their detention, Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro visited the facility and reported that the boy appeared "sad and depressed," with his father noting that "he hasn't been himself."
Judge Biery's opinion contained strong language condemning the government's actions, stating that "the case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children." The judge further criticized what he called the government's apparent "ignorance" of foundational American principles.
Constitutional Concerns and Political Response
In his ruling, Judge Biery specifically cited the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures." He also referenced the Declaration of Independence and its enumeration of grievances against authoritarian rule, suggesting the government's actions contradicted these fundamental American values.
The Trump administration had sought to justify the boy's detention by arguing that ICE took him into custody after his father attempted to flee from immigration agents. However, this justification failed to satisfy judicial scrutiny given the child's age and circumstances.
Return Home and Ongoing Advocacy
Following the court ruling, Congressman Castro traveled to Texas to accompany the boy and his father on their flight back to Minnesota. Castro posted on social media platform X with photos of the child, writing: "Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack." He added: "We won't stop until all children and families are home," indicating ongoing political advocacy around immigration detention practices.
The case highlights continuing tensions between immigration enforcement priorities and humanitarian concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of children in immigration proceedings. As the boy returns to normal life in Minnesota, the judicial criticism of government practices raises questions about future immigration enforcement strategies and their alignment with constitutional protections.
