5-Year-Old Detained by ICE, Held in Texas Facility

Liam Conejo Ramos was taken from his home and separated from his family, sparking outrage over ICE's treatment of immigrant children.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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A 5-year-old boy named Liam Conejo Ramos was recently detained by ICE agents and held at a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. Ramos, who was traveling with his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, was taken from his home in Minnesota and separated from his family, despite the family having a pending asylum case and no criminal record. The detention of young children by ICE has drawn widespread criticism, with a federal judge ordering Ramos and his father to be released, condemning the "imposition of cruelty" by the agency.

Why it matters

The detention of young children by ICE, often without criminal charges, has become a major point of controversy and criticism of the agency's tactics. Critics argue that the practice is inhumane and traumatic for the children involved, and that it undermines the principles of due process and human rights. The case of Liam Conejo Ramos highlights the broader issues around ICE's treatment of immigrant families and the impact on vulnerable children.

The details

In the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old was taken from his home in Minnesota by ICE agents and transported to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. His father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, told Congressman Joaquin Castro that Liam has been "very depressed" and "hasn't been eating well" since being detained. Despite the family having a pending asylum case and no criminal record, ICE described Arias as an "illegal alien." A federal judge later ordered Ramos and his father to be released, condemning the "imposition of cruelty" by ICE.

  • On January 20, Liam Conejo Ramos was detained by ICE agents and taken from his home in Minnesota.
  • On January 30, a U.S. District Judge ordered that Ramos and his father be released from ICE detention.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy who was detained by ICE agents and held at a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.

Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias

The father of Liam Conejo Ramos, who was also detained by ICE despite having a pending asylum case and no criminal record.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery

The federal judge who ordered the release of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, condemning the "imposition of cruelty" by ICE.

Congressman Joaquin Castro

The U.S. Representative who spoke with Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias about the detention of his son Liam.

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

The federal agency responsible for detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, including the detention of Liam Conejo Ramos.

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What they’re saying

“Liam has been very depressed since he's been at Dilley, that he hasn't been eating well.”

— Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, Father of Liam Conejo Ramos (Congressman Joaquin Castro)

“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.”

— U.S. District Judge Fred Biery (Court opinion)

“the imposition of cruelty”

— U.S. District Judge Fred Biery (Court opinion)

What’s next

The judge's order to release Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from ICE detention is a significant development, but the broader issues around the agency's treatment of immigrant children remain unresolved. Advocacy groups and lawmakers are likely to continue pushing for reforms to ICE's policies and practices, particularly around the detention of minors.

The takeaway

The detention of a 5-year-old boy by ICE, despite his family having a pending asylum case and no criminal record, highlights the harsh and inhumane tactics employed by the agency. This case underscores the urgent need for reforms to protect the rights and wellbeing of immigrant children caught up in the immigration enforcement system.