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 detained during immigration crackdown.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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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

The detention of the 5-year-old boy and his father has stirred outrage over the immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area, with neighbors and school officials accusing federal immigration officers of using the child as 'bait.' The government's denial of expediting the asylum claims aims to address these concerns and clarify the nature of the proceedings.

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 released following a judge's order and returned to Minnesota on February 1. The government has stated that the father entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in December 2024 and has an asylum claim pending that allows him to stay in the U.S.

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

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 an asylum claim pending that allows him to stay in the U.S.

Danielle Molliver

A lawyer representing Liam Conejo Ramos and his father.

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 (wbal.com)

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

— Danielle Molliver, Lawyer for Liam Conejo Ramos and his father (New York Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the family's asylum claim in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions and debates around immigration enforcement, with concerns raised over the treatment of children and allegations of retaliation, even as the government maintains it is simply enforcing existing laws.