Immigration Judge Terminates Asylum Case for 5-Year-Old, Orders Removal

Family plans to appeal decision that could separate young child from parents

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:52am

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An immigration judge has terminated the asylum case of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and ordered his family's removal from the United States. The decision has been met with outrage from the boy's school district, which called the move "heartbreaking" and said it would further harm children and families detained under the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing concerns over the use of administrative warrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain immigrant families without judicial oversight, which many argue violates the Fourth Amendment. The termination of the asylum claim also threatens to separate young Liam from his parents, who plan to appeal the decision.

The details

Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old student at Columbia Heights Public School District, and his family were detained by ICE in January under Operation Metro Surge. While the government claimed his father "abandoned" him, school officials said Liam was used as a pretext to gain access to the family's home. A federal judge later ordered Liam and his father released, stating that administrative warrants issued by the executive branch without judicial approval "do not pass probable cause muster." However, an immigration judge has now terminated the family's asylum case and ordered their removal from the U.S.

  • In January, Liam and his father were detained by ICE under Operation Metro Surge.
  • Last month, a federal judge ordered Liam and his father released from ICE custody.
  • This week, an immigration judge terminated the family's asylum case and ordered their removal.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old student at Columbia Heights Public School District whose asylum case was terminated by an immigration judge, ordering his family's removal from the U.S.

Adrian Conejo Arias

Liam's father, who was detained with his son by ICE in January under Operation Metro Surge.

Erika Ramos

Liam's mother, who is pregnant with the couple's third child.

Columbia Heights Public School District

The school district where Liam attends, which lamented the immigration judge's decision to terminate the family's asylum case.

Judge Fred Biery

The federal district judge who ordered Liam and his father to be released from ICE custody, stating that administrative warrants issued by the executive branch without judicial approval "do not pass probable cause muster."

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What they’re saying

“The announcement...is heartbreaking. We understand that this decision will be appealed and remain hopeful for a positive outcome. The detention in January of Liam and his father shed light on the harm caused by Operation Metro Surge, during which many children and families have been detained.”

— Columbia Heights Public School District

“Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster. That is called the fox guarding the henhouse. The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer.”

— Judge Fred Biery, Federal District Judge

What’s next

The Ramos family plans to appeal the immigration judge's decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, a process that could last years. The family may remain in the U.S. while the appeal is adjudicated.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the use of administrative warrants by ICE to detain immigrant families without judicial oversight, which many argue violates the Fourth Amendment. The termination of the asylum claim also threatens to separate a young child from his parents, underscoring the human toll of the country's complex immigration policies.