Asylum Claim Denied for Family of Boy Detained with Father

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An immigration judge has denied the asylum claim of the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy photographed in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack as he was detained with his father during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis earlier this year. The boy and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who is from Ecuador, were taken into custody in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 and held for 10 days in a Texas detention center before a judge ordered them released. The family's lawyers are appealing the ruling by Judge John Burns, saying they are "gravely disappointed" in the "misguided decision."

Why it matters

The case of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father drew national attention, with neighbors and school officials accusing federal immigration officers of using the young boy as "bait" to apprehend his father. The denials of their asylum claim and order for deportation to Ecuador have sparked outrage and renewed concerns about the treatment of immigrant families during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

The details

According to the family's lawyer, Danielle Molliver, the immigration judge denied the asylum claim of Liam Conejo Ramos' family and ordered them deported to Ecuador. Molliver said the family is appealing the ruling, but an appeal could take years to move through the courts. She expressed hope that the government would push for a speedier process, but at minimum expects a couple months before a decision. Molliver said Liam is back in his suburban Minneapolis school, but that he and his father were badly shaken by their time in detention and are now "scared" about what could happen.

• On January 20, Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias were taken into custody in a Minneapolis suburb.
• Liam and his father were held for 10 days in a Texas detention center before a judge ordered them released.
• The immigration judge denied the family's asylum claim in March 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The family's lawyers are appealing the immigration judge's ruling, which could take years to move through the courts. Molliver said she hopes the government will push for a speedier process, but at minimum expects a couple months before a decision on the appeal.