Federal Judge Orders Release of Child and Father Amid Growing Immigration Enforcement Scrutiny

A federal judge has ordered the release of a five-year-old boy and his father from immigration detention in Texas, following their apprehension in Minnesota by federal agents. This incident is part of broader federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota that have led to the detention of multiple children and families, prompted protests, and drawn criticism regarding detention conditions and enforcement tactics. Conflicting accounts have emerged from government officials, family representatives, and school authorities regarding the circumstances of several detentions.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery criticized the case, stating it had "its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children."

Detention of Liam Conejo Ramos and Adrian Conejo Arias

On January 20, federal agents detained five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, as they returned home from preschool. Both were subsequently transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. The family's attorney, Marc Prokosch, stated that Liam and his father had an active asylum case, had entered the U.S. at an official port of entry in 2024, and had no deportation order.

Conflicting accounts arose regarding the apprehension:

• School officials and family representatives alleged that agents directed Liam to knock on his front door.

  This act was described as "using a 5-year-old as bait" to prompt occupants to open the door.
  An adult at the home reportedly offered to take custody of Liam, but this request was denied by agents.

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that ICE conducted a "targeted operation" to arrest Adrian Conejo Arias, described as an "illegal alien" from Ecuador.

  McLaughlin alleged the father "fled on foot – abandoning his child," and an ICE officer remained with Liam for safety while other officers apprehended the father.
  DHS also stated that ICE officers attempted to have Liam's mother take him, but she reportedly refused.

Adrian Conejo Arias denied abandoning his son, stating he was walking ahead to alert others for help. His attorney stated that the father had not committed any crimes and had adhered to asylum protocols.

Legal Intervention and Release

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered the immediate stay of any removal or transfer of Liam and his father on January 22. On January 27, Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited Liam and his father at the Dilley facility. Rep. Castro reported that Liam's father stated the boy had been sleeping frequently, asking about his mother and classmates, and expressed a desire to return to school.

On January 31, Judge Biery ordered the release of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from detention.

Following the judge's order, Liam and his father were released on February 1 and returned to Minneapolis, accompanied by Rep. Joaquin Castro and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Adrian Conejo Arias stated his son had become ill in custody and was denied medicine, a claim DHS did not address.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterated that ICE did not target a child and affirmed the administration's commitment to enforcing immigration laws. After their release, DHS filed a motion for expedited deportation for the family, but an immigration judge granted a continuance, postponing the asylum hearing.

Other Detentions in Columbia Heights

Liam was one of multiple students from the Columbia Heights school district reportedly detained by federal immigration agents during increased enforcement activity:

Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano and Rosa Elena Caisaguano Cajilema

Ten-year-old Elizabeth and her mother, Rosa Elena Caisaguano Cajilema, also from Ecuador with an active asylum case, were apprehended on January 6 while on their way to school. They were detained for approximately one month at the Dilley facility. Concerns were raised about Elizabeth's health, including flu-like symptoms and a confirmed measles outbreak at the facility. A habeas corpus petition was filed, and Judge Biery prohibited their deportation. They were released on February 4 and subsequently prepared to return to Minnesota. DHS stated the mother had a "final order of removal," which the family's attorney disputed, noting a pending appeal.

Elvis Tipan-Echeverria and C.R.T.V.

On January 23, a two-year-old girl and her father, Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, both Ecuadorean citizens with a pending asylum application for the child, were detained in Minneapolis and flown to Texas. A court order for the child's immediate release was issued but not met before their transfer.

• DHS stated agents attempted to give the child to her mother, who was in the area, but she refused.
• The family's lawyer stated the mother was "terrified" and that agents prevented the father from bringing the child to her.
  The child was returned to her mother on January 24, while the father remained in custody, subject to a federal court order prohibiting his transfer outside Minnesota.

Two Brothers and Their Mother

On January 30, two brothers (second and fifth grade) and their mother, who has a pending asylum case, were detained. The mother contacted school leaders from detention, requesting her children be brought to her at a federal building, stating no other family was available to care for them. School officials accompanied the boys to be reunited with their mother, but agents refused their request to release the family to them. They were subsequently transferred to Dilley.

Other Students

• A 17-year-old student was reportedly taken from their car.
• A 17-year-old high school girl and her mother were detained after agents entered an apartment.
  Superintendent Stenvik reported a total of six students from her district detained by ICE, with two (Liam and Elizabeth) having returned.

Conditions at Detention Facilities

Reports from detainees and advocates described conditions at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center:

• Protests occurred over the discovery of bugs in food.
• Lights were reportedly kept on 24 hours a day, affecting sleep.
• Texas health authorities confirmed two measles cases, leading to quarantines.
• Detainees reported medical neglect, including delayed care for a child with appendicitis and denial of specific dietary needs for a child with Hirschsprung's disease.
• An 18-month-old child, Amalia, was hospitalized for severe respiratory distress and returned to Dilley, where her family alleged denial of prescribed medication. Amalia and her family were later released following an emergency habeas corpus petition.

Leecia Welch, chief legal counselor at Children's Rights, described conditions as "worse than ever," citing a significant increase in children, many detained for over 100 days, and reports of malnourishment and illness.

An ICE report from December acknowledged approximately 400 children had experienced extended detention beyond the recommended 20-day limit.

CoreCivic, the private company operating the facility, stated that the "health and safety of those entrusted to our care is the [company's] top priority" and that medical staff "meet the highest standards of care."

Broader Context and Community Response

Increased federal immigration enforcement has been reported in Minnesota, with approximately 3,000 arrests in Minnesota over six weeks, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official. DHS described operations as "targeted" and focused on individuals posing a "serious threat."

Community Impact

• Superintendent Stenvik expressed concern regarding the impact on students, parents, and school staff, noting "trauma" and a drop in school attendance, with up to one-third of students absent on one day due to fear of ICE activity.
• In one instance, an ICE vehicle drove onto high school property and was instructed to leave by administrators.

Protests

• Thousands protested in Minneapolis on January 23 against ICE operations, with approximately 700 businesses closing in solidarity.
• A separate demonstration at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport against deportations led to the arrest of 100 clergy members.
• Protests also occurred outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, with detainees reportedly joining. Texas state police officers deployed chemical irritants, and two individuals were arrested during an incident where demonstrators reportedly breached a protest area and spit on officers.

Official and Political Reactions

• UN human rights chief Volker Turk called on U.S. authorities to end the "harmful treatment of migrants and refugees."
• Vice President JD Vance, during a visit to Minneapolis, stated Liam was detained, not arrested, and that agents were protecting him after his father reportedly fled.
• Representatives Joaquin Castro, Ilhan Omar, and Amy Klobuchar publicly criticized the detentions and called for the release of children and families. Rep. Castro accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of overseeing a "lawless" immigration enforcement operation.
• A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against a DHS policy that had attempted to block lawmakers' access to ICE detention facilities.
• The detentions and enforcement actions occurred amid ongoing federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, with Minneapolis being a "sanctuary city" where local police generally do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
• Protests in Minneapolis also followed the January 7 shooting death of U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent, which was classified as a homicide.