A 5-year-old boy detained by U.S. immigration officers in Minnesota has been released after a judge ordered his return home. The child, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father were flown back to Minnesota after being held for days at an ICE detention facility in Texas.
Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro confirmed the release on Sunday, saying he personally escorted the father and son back from Dilley, Texas. A spokesperson for Castro said the pair arrived safely in Minnesota and reunited with their family.
Detention Sparked Public Outrage
Liam and his father were detained on January 20 in a Minneapolis suburb during an immigration enforcement operation. ICE officers transported them more than 1,200 miles to a detention center in Dilley, a move that drew sharp criticism from community members and elected officials.
Photos of Liam wearing a blue bunny hat and carrying a Spider Man backpack while surrounded by immigration officers spread rapidly online. The images fueled anger over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. (Associated Press)
Conflicting Accounts of the Arrest
Neighbors and school officials claimed immigration officers used the preschooler to lure his mother outside by asking him to knock on the door. The Department of Homeland Security strongly denied that account, calling it false.
DHS said the father fled on foot during the encounter and left the child alone in a running vehicle in the driveway. The agency did not immediately respond to questions about the release when contacted by reporters. (Department of Homeland Security)
Judge Orders Release
A judge ordered that Liam and his father be released from custody, leading to their return to Minnesota. Katherine Schneider, a spokesperson for Rep. Castro, said the congressman picked them up from the detention center late Saturday and accompanied them home.
Castro shared a letter he wrote to Liam during the flight. In it, he told the child that he had “moved the world” and reminded him that immigrants helped build the United States.
Leaders React to the Child’s Return
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota welcomed Liam back, writing that he belongs in school and with his family, not in detention. She added that ICE should now leave the community.
Rep. Ilhan Omar also shared a photo with Liam, his father, and Castro, calling the moment a homecoming. “Welcome home Liam,” she wrote on social media.
Broader Questions About Immigration Enforcement
The case has renewed debate over how immigration laws are enforced and whether children should ever be detained during operations. Advocates say the incident highlights the human cost of aggressive enforcement tactics.
While federal officials defend their actions as lawful, the release of a 5-year-old after judicial intervention has intensified scrutiny of ICE practices. As lawmakers push for answers, Liam’s case has become a powerful symbol in the national immigration debate.