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

Federal authorities refute claims of expedited deportation proceedings against family with pending asylum case.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 5:39pm

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Federal authorities have denied allegations that they were attempting to expedite the end of asylum claims by the family of a 5-year-old boy who was detained with his father during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. The government stated that the removal proceedings were regular and not in expedited removal, and that there was nothing retaliatory about enforcing immigration laws. The boy and his father, who are originally from Ecuador, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 and taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas, before being released and returned to Minnesota on February 1.

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 young child as "bait" to apprehend his parents. The government's denial of expediting the asylum claims aims to address these concerns and allegations.

The details

The boy's father, Adrian Conejo Arias, entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in December 2024 and has an asylum claim pending that allows him to stay in the country. The family's lawyer stated that the government was attempting to speed up the deportation proceedings, calling the actions 'extraordinary' and possibly 'retaliatory.' However, the Department of Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin said the removal proceedings were regular and not in expedited removal, and that there was nothing retaliatory about enforcing immigration laws.

  • The boy and his father were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20, 2026.
  • The boy and his father were taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
  • The boy and his father were released following a judge's order 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 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

A lawyer for the boy and his father.

Tricia McLaughlin

A Department of Homeland Security official who denied that the removal proceedings were expedited or retaliatory.

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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 boy and his father

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 controversies surrounding immigration enforcement, with allegations of heavy-handed tactics and concerns over the treatment of children. The government's denial of expediting the asylum claims aims to address these concerns, but the case remains a complex and sensitive issue.