5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and father released from ICE detention, return to Minnesota

The boy and his father, who is seeking asylum, were detained in Minnesota and held at a Texas facility before being ordered released by a judge.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 1:55pm

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Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who were detained by immigration officers in Minnesota and held at an ICE facility in Texas, have been released following a judge's order. They have returned to Minnesota, according to Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro.

Why it matters

The detention of the young boy and his father sparked outrage over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, with critics arguing the government used the child as "bait" to apprehend the father. The case highlights ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and the impact on families.

The details

Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, who is originally from Ecuador, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 and taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. A judge ordered their release, and they were escorted home to Minnesota by Rep. Joaquin Castro. The Department of Homeland Security claimed the father fled on foot and left the boy in a running vehicle, but neighbors and school officials said federal agents used the child as bait.

  • Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were detained on January 20, 2026.
  • They were released and returned to Minnesota on February 1, 2026.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy who was detained by immigration officers along with his father.

Adrian Conejo Arias

Liam's father, who is originally from Ecuador and has an asylum claim pending that allows him to stay in the U.S.

Joaquin Castro

A Texas congressman who picked up Liam and his father from the detention facility in Dilley, Texas and escorted them back to Minnesota.

Tricia McLaughlin

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary who claimed immigration officers did not target or arrest Liam, and that his 'alleged mother' refused to take him after his father's apprehension.

Fred Biery

A U.S. District Judge who ordered the release of Liam and his father, blasting the Trump administration's "ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented" pursuit of deportation quotas.

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What they’re saying

“The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.”

— Fred Biery, U.S. District Judge

“Don't let anyone tell you this isn't your home. America became the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth because of immigrants not in spite of them.”

— Joaquin Castro, Texas Congressman

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has said it will continue to fight for the arrest, detention, and removal of immigrants it deems to have no right to be in the country, raising concerns about further immigration enforcement actions.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions over the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, with critics arguing that aggressive tactics like using children as "bait" to apprehend parents are traumatizing families and going against American values of welcoming immigrants.