Officials Deny Seeking Quick End to Asylum Claims for Minneapolis Family of 5-Year-Old

Federal authorities refute claims of expediting deportation proceedings for family with pending asylum case.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 2:15pm

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Federal authorities have denied attempting to expedite an end to asylum claims by the family of a 5-year-old boy who was detained with his father during an immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area. The government has stated that the proceedings are regular removal proceedings, not expedited removal, and that there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing immigration laws. The family's lawyer had claimed the government was trying to speed up the deportation proceedings, calling the actions 'extraordinary' and possibly 'retaliatory.'

Why it matters

This case has stirred outrage over the immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area, with neighbors and school officials accusing federal immigration officers of using the 5-year-old boy as 'bait' to detain his father. The government has denied these claims, but the situation highlights the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding immigration enforcement actions.

The details

The 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who is originally from Ecuador, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 and taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. They were later released following a judge's order and returned to Minnesota on February 1. The family's lawyer, Danielle Molliver, had claimed the government was attempting to speed up the deportation proceedings, but the Department of Homeland Security has denied this, stating that the proceedings are regular removal proceedings and not expedited removal.

  • The family was detained on January 20, 2026.
  • The family was released and returned to Minnesota on February 1, 2026.
  • A closed hearing was held on Friday, where an immigration judge gave the family's lawyer additional time to argue their case.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy who was detained with his father during the immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area.

Adrian Conejo Arias

The father of Liam Conejo Ramos, who is originally from Ecuador and has a pending asylum claim that allows him to stay in the U.S.

Danielle Molliver

The lawyer representing Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias.

Tricia McLaughlin

A Department of Homeland Security official who denied that the government was attempting to expedite the deportation proceedings.

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What they’re saying

“These are regular removal proceedings. They are not in expedited removal. There is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation's immigration laws.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security official

“The government was attempting to speed up the deportation proceedings, calling the actions 'extraordinary' and possibly 'retaliatory.'”

— Danielle Molliver, Lawyer for the family

What’s next

The immigration judge has given the family's lawyer additional time to argue their case, indicating that the proceedings are ongoing and the family's asylum claim is still being considered.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding immigration enforcement actions, with accusations of using children as 'bait' and claims of expedited deportation proceedings. The government's denial of these claims and insistence on following regular removal proceedings suggests a complex and contentious situation, with the family's asylum case still pending.