UPDATE: In a dramatic turn of events, 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have been released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention and are back in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. This urgent development comes just days after a judge ordered their release following widespread public outcry.
The pair arrived in Minnesota on Sunday, January 21, 2026, after Democratic Texas Representative Joaquin Castro personally picked them up from the detention center in Dilley, Texas. “Liam is now home,” Castro announced on social media, sharing a touching moment of the boy wearing his beloved bunny hat and carrying a Spiderman backpack.
The incident that led to their detention has drawn national outrage. Liam and his father were intercepted by ICE agents on January 20 as they returned home from preschool, with reports indicating that officers used Liam as a tactic to lure his father out of their vehicle. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik condemned the actions, stating that the child was “essentially used as bait.”
The Department of Homeland Security has rejected claims of misconduct, alleging that Adrian fled the scene, leaving Liam in the running vehicle. However, the distressing image of a young Liam surrounded by ICE agents has resonated deeply across the nation, especially in light of recent tragic events involving ICE actions.
After visiting the detention center, Reps. Castro and Jasmine Crockett found Liam in a state of distress—lethargic, not eating, and calling for his mother. This sparked intensified pressure for their immediate release. The family, who arrived from Ecuador in 2024, reportedly has an active asylum case and is not under any removal order, their attorney confirmed.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery emphasized the importance of compassion in his ruling, quoting the Declaration of Independence and biblical references to highlight the moral implications of their detention. “The perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty know no bounds,” Biery stated, underscoring the need for humane treatment.
As Liam and Adrian reunite with their family, this case serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing immigration debate in the United States. Advocates are calling for systemic change to ensure the protection of vulnerable families caught in the crosshairs of strict immigration enforcement.
What happens next? Activists and lawmakers are likely to continue advocating for policy reforms to protect families like Liam’s. This case may influence future discussions on immigration practices and the treatment of children in detention.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.
