5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos and Father Released from ICE Custody, Return Home

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos, landed back in Minneapolis on Sunday after their release from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dilley, Texas. A U.S. District Judge in Texas ordered their freedom on Saturday, following their arrest earlier this month in Minnesota. The case drew attention from lawmakers, school officials, and community members who raised concerns about the detention of a young child.

Background

Liam Conejo Ramos lives in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis. He attends a local public school there. On January 20, ICE agents went to the family home to arrest his father. Agents said they planned to take Adrian Conejo Ramos into custody because he is from Ecuador and entered the U.S. without legal permission. The family had applied for asylum after crossing the border in 2024. They used a phone app set up under the previous administration to schedule an entry at a border point.

School officials reported that Liam had just come home from preschool when agents arrived. His father was in the driveway. According to ICE, the father ran away on foot when agents approached, leaving Liam in the car. Agents said they stayed with the boy for his safety. They tried to hand him over to his mother inside the house. She did not come out. People close to the family said she stayed inside because she feared arrest herself. Agents then took both Liam and his father to the Dilley facility, which holds families with children facing immigration charges.

The detention lasted about two weeks. During that time, Liam's school district spoke out. The district has other students from similar situations held at the same center. Lawmakers got involved too. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar from Minnesota welcomed them home on social media. She posted a picture with the boy, his father, and other supporters.

Key Details

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued the release order on Saturday. He told officials to free the pair as soon as possible, but no later than Tuesday, February 3. The judge blocked any move to deport or transfer them while the case went forward. In his written decision, Biery called the government's actions part of a push for daily deportation goals. He said it led to harm for children and lacked proper process.

Release and Return Trip

The two were let out late Saturday night. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro from Texas picked them up. He flew with them from San Antonio to Minneapolis on Sunday morning. ABC News reporter John Quinones joined the flight. He shared that airline pilots let Liam visit the cockpit. Castro said Liam wore his hat and carried his backpack on the trip home. In a social media post, Castro wrote:

“Liam is now home. 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.” – U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro

Castro met with the father before the flight. The father told him Liam felt very sad and had not eaten much since arriving at Dilley. Protests happened outside the facility earlier in the week. Texas lawmakers and advocates called for their release.

The Department of Homeland Security pushed back on the story. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said ICE did not target the child. She repeated that agents went for the father only. She said he fled and left the boy behind. DHS has no record of the family using the border app for asylum. They call the father an illegal immigrant with no valid claim to stay.

Columbia Heights Public Schools issued a statement Sunday. They said:

“Liam's release is an important development, and we hope it will lead to positive developments for other families as well, including our other four students who are being held at the Dilley facility in Texas. We want all children to be released from detention centers and hope for the reunification of families who have been unjustly separated.” – Columbia Heights Public Schools

Liam's mother spoke to a local news outlet from hiding. She shared that Liam called her from detention. He asked why she did not pick them up.

What This Means

The release ends the immediate detention for Liam and his father. But their asylum case continues. They face possible deportation unless they win protection. The judge noted they might have to return to Ecuador, but through fair steps, not rushed action. This case highlights tensions in immigration enforcement. It shows how arrests at homes can affect children and families. Supporters like Castro say they will keep pushing for other detained kids. School leaders hope it sets an example. DHS sticks to its goal of removing people without legal status. The family now reunites in Minnesota. Community members plan to help them adjust after the ordeal. Lawmakers from both parties have weighed in, but no further court dates are set right now. The Dilley center holds many families. Events there often spark wider debate on child detention and border policy.