Minnesota Governor Confronts Federal Authorities Over Child Detentions in Schools
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a stark warning on Tuesday, stating that the detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may represent just the tip of the iceberg. During a press conference at the State Capitol, the Democratic governor denounced ICE's targeting of educational institutions and their students, emphasizing the lack of public awareness about the full scope of these operations.
A Viral Photo Reveals a Systemic Issue
"The reality is, we have no idea how many other children are in identical situations but didn't have a photograph that spread across the internet," Walz stated. His comments came alongside the release of a formal letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding specific data on the number of minors detained within Minnesota's borders.
"His case is, incredibly, one of many. Each new day seems to bring additional reports of children being taken into custody by ICE," the governor wrote, underscoring the urgency of his request for transparency and accountability.
Data Shows a Sharp Increase in Child Detentions
Governor Walz's statements highlight a significant escalation in the detention of children under the previous presidential administration, coupled with critically limited oversight of their treatment while in federal custody. An independent analysis conducted by The Marshall Project reveals a troubling trend.
According to their review, ICE held an average of approximately 170 children per day during President Donald Trump's second term. This figure marks a substantial increase compared to the final 16 months of the Biden administration, during which the daily average was around 25 children. It is important to note that this data set covers the period from September 2023 to mid-October 2025 and does not include information from recent enforcement actions in Minnesota.
School Districts Report Multiple Student Detentions
Officials from the Columbia Heights School District, where young Liam Ramos is enrolled, confirmed that he was not alone. Several students have been detained by federal agents within the last month alone. These cases include a 10-year-old girl who was taken into custody alongside her mother and a 17-year-old boy who was intercepted on his commute to school.
In response to Governor Walz's inquiry, a DHS spokesperson declined to provide additional data or commentary. However, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin offered a defense of the agency's practices.
"ICE is not conducting operations at schools for the purpose of arresting children," McLaughlin asserted. She further claimed that the agency provides parents with options, such as choosing to be removed together with their child or designating another individual to take custody.
Walz Calls for Policy Changes and Humane Treatment
In his detailed letter to Secretary Noem, Governor Walz expanded his demands beyond mere numbers. He requested information on the health and welfare of both adults and children who have been detained in Minnesota. He also issued a direct plea for ICE to alter its enforcement tactics to prioritize child safety.
"While I acknowledge the Department of Homeland Security's mandate for federal enforcement, these actions must be executed lawfully, with humanity, and in alignment with our collective duty to protect children," Walz wrote. "No child in America should face incarceration. It is time to send our kids home."
Demand to Reinstate Sensitive Locations Policy
A key policy recommendation from the governor involves the reinstatement of the "sensitive locations" directive. This former policy instructed federal agents to generally avoid enforcement actions near places like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The current absence of such protections has created an atmosphere of fear within Minnesota's educational community.
State education officials reported on Tuesday that some children are now attending classes virtually out of fear, and that trained observers are being stationed to monitor school grounds for the possible arrival of federal agents.
Brenda Lewis, Superintendent of Fridley Public Schools, voiced the concerns of many educators: "ICE has no place in or around our schools, and no place near our bus stops. Our schools must be safe havens for learning, not places of fear and apprehension."
The situation in Minnesota underscores a growing national tension between state-level protections for children and federal immigration enforcement, placing the well-being of students at the center of a heated policy debate.
