Officials deny seeking quick end to asylum claims for Minneapolis family of 5-year-old

Federal authorities refute claims they are trying to expedite deportation proceedings for the family.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 3:07pm

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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 the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. The government said the proceedings are 'regular removal proceedings' and not an attempt to speed up deportation, contradicting claims made by the family's lawyer.

Why it matters

The detention of the 5-year-old boy and his father sparked outrage over the immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area, raising concerns about the treatment of immigrant families and the potential use of children as 'bait' to apprehend undocumented parents.

The details

The boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were detained on January 20 in a Minneapolis suburb and taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. They were later released and returned to Minnesota on February 1 following a judge's order. The family's lawyer, Danielle Molliver, had claimed the government was attempting to speed up the deportation proceedings, calling the actions 'extraordinary' and possibly 'retaliatory.' However, the Department of Homeland Security denied these claims, stating the proceedings are 'regular removal proceedings' and 'there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation's immigration laws.'

  • Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were detained on January 20, 2026 in a Minneapolis suburb.
  • They were taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
  • Liam and his father were released and returned to Minnesota on February 1, 2026 following a judge's order.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

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

Adrian Conejo Arias

The father of Liam Conejo Ramos, who is originally from Ecuador and has an asylum claim pending 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 the government was attempting to expedite the end of the family's asylum claims.

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What they’re saying

“These are regular removal proceedings. They are not in expedited removal.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security official

“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 boy and his father

What’s next

The immigration judge has given Danielle Molliver, the family's lawyer, additional time to argue the family's asylum case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions and concerns around immigration enforcement tactics, particularly the potential use of children as 'bait' to apprehend undocumented parents. The government's denial of expediting the asylum claims process raises questions about transparency and the treatment of immigrant families during the crackdown in Minneapolis.