5-Year-Old Asylum Seeker and Father Freed After Detention

Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias board flight back to Minneapolis after judge orders their release.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:31am

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A 5-year-old asylum seeker named Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias were released from a Texas detention facility and allowed to board a flight back to their home in Minneapolis after a federal judge ordered the government to release them. The pair had been detained by immigration agents last week shortly after Liam arrived home from preschool.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns over the treatment of asylum-seeking families, especially the detention of children, as well as questions about the enforcement tactics used by immigration authorities.

The details

Liam and his father were detained on January 20 by immigration agents shortly after Liam arrived home from preschool. They were taken to a federal detention facility in Texas, despite having a pending asylum case and no deportation order. On Saturday, a federal judge ordered the government to release the pair "as soon as practicable" but no later than February 3.

  • On January 20, Liam and his father were detained by immigration agents.
  • On February 1, Liam and his father boarded a plane back to Minneapolis after being released from detention.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old asylum seeker who was detained by immigration agents along with his father.

Adrian Conejo Arias

The father of Liam Conejo Ramos, an asylum seeker who was detained along with his son.

Judge Fred Biery

The U.S. District Judge who ordered the release of Liam and his father from the immigration detention center.

Rep. Joaquin Castro

A Texas congressman who boarded the flight with Liam and his father as they returned to Minneapolis.

Tricia McLaughlin

The DHS Assistant Secretary who disputed the family's account of what happened during the detention.

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What they’re saying

“I'm happy to finally be going home.”

— Adrian Conejo Arias (ABC News)

“Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency.”

— Judge Fred Biery, U.S. District Judge (Court Order)

“The facts in this case have NOT changed: ICE did NOT target or arrest a child.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary (DHS Statement)

What’s next

The judge said the father and son may "return to their home country, involuntarily or by self-deportation," but added that it should be a result "through a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place."

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the treatment of asylum-seeking families, particularly the detention of children, which the judge described as "traumatizing." It raises questions about the government's priorities and the need for more compassionate and humane policies.