The father of a five year old boy detained by immigration agents in Minnesota is pushing back against government claims that he abandoned his child. Adrian Conejo Arias says he would never leave his son Liam and insists federal officials have misrepresented what happened.
The pair were detained last month and taken to a federal immigration facility in Dilley Texas. A federal judge later ordered their release, and they returned to Minnesota over the weekend.
Father Rejects Homeland Security Account
Arias told ABC News that he loves his son and denied claims made by the Department of Homeland Security. DHS officials said Arias fled on foot and left his child behind in a vehicle during the arrest.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said officers stayed with the child after the father ran. Arias disputes that version and says he was arrested unfairly despite having a pending asylum case.
He also said his son became sick while in custody and was denied medication. DHS has not addressed that claim. (ABC News)
Judge Orders Release Amid Public Pressure
A federal judge ordered the release of Arias and his son over the weekend. Texas Representative Joaquin Castro confirmed he escorted them back to Minnesota.
Images of Liam wearing a blue bunny hat and carrying a Spider Man backpack while surrounded by immigration officers spread widely online. The photos fueled public outrage and renewed debate over child detention.
Immigration Crackdown Raises Tensions
The case unfolded amid President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration enforcement campaign. The crackdown has sparked daily protests in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
Tensions escalated after federal officers fatally shot two American citizens in recent weeks. Trump ordered his top border adviser to oversee enforcement operations following the death of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti.
Border adviser Tom Homan acknowledged mistakes may occur but said agents would continue enforcing federal law. (Reuters)
School Community Disrupted by Arrests
Liam’s return was welcomed by neighbors, but his elementary school faced serious disruption. Classes were canceled after bomb threats were reported, though authorities found no explosives.
School officials said more than two dozen parents at Valley View Elementary have been detained. Nearly two hundred students were absent on one recent school day due to fear among families.
Principal Jason Kuhlman said the school began offering online classes as parents worried about coming to campus.
Lawmakers Push Back on Detention Conditions
Several members of Congress said they observed harsh conditions inside ICE facilities. Minnesota Representative Kelly Morrison said detainees lacked beds, blankets, and proper medical care.
A federal judge in Washington issued a temporary restraining order blocking a Trump administration policy that limited congressional access to detention centers. The judge said lawmakers were likely to prevail in court.
A Symbol for Other Families
Liam’s release has given hope to other families with children still in detention. One Minnesota father said his ten year old daughter remains held with her mother at the same Texas facility.
Advocates say the case highlights the human impact of aggressive immigration enforcement. As legal battles continue, Liam’s story has become a powerful symbol in the national debate over how children are treated during immigration arrests.