Migrant Child Liam Conejo Ramos Deteriorating in Texas ICE Facility, Mother Says

The 5-year-old boy has been detained with his father at the South Texas Family Residential Center, where conditions have been criticized.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:47pm

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Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old migrant child, is reportedly deteriorating in health while detained with his father at the South Texas Family Residential Center. His mother Erika and school superintendent Zena Stenvik have expressed deep concern over Liam's worsening condition, which includes stomach pain, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite. U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro visited the facility and met with Liam and his father, noting the boy was mostly sleeping during the visit due to depression and sadness.

Why it matters

The case of Liam Conejo Ramos highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrant children and families in U.S. immigration detention facilities, which have faced multiple allegations of civil rights abuses. The deteriorating health of this young child raises questions about the quality of medical care and living conditions at these centers.

The details

Liam and his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week in Minneapolis and later transferred to the South Texas Family Residential Center. Liam's mother Erika and his school superintendent Zena Stenvik have expressed deep worry over the boy's declining health, which includes stomach pain, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro visited the facility and met with Liam and his father, noting the boy was mostly sleeping due to depression and sadness.

  • Liam and his father were detained by ICE last week in Minneapolis.
  • Liam's mother Erika reported his deteriorating health on Wednesday.
  • U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro visited the facility and met with Liam and his father on Wednesday.

The players

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old migrant child detained with his father at the South Texas Family Residential Center.

Erika

Liam's mother, who has expressed deep concern over her son's deteriorating health in detention.

Zena Stenvik

The superintendent of Liam's school district in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, who has also expressed worry over the boy's well-being.

Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias

Liam's father, who is detained with him at the South Texas Family Residential Center.

Joaquin Castro

A U.S. Representative who visited the South Texas Family Residential Center and met with Liam and his father.

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What they’re saying

“Liam is getting sick because the food they receive is not of good quality. He has stomach pain, he's vomiting, he has a fever and he no longer wants to eat.”

— Erika, Liam's mother (Minnesota Public Radio News)

“Unfortunately, Liam's health is not doing great right now. He's been ill. I've been told he has a fever. So I'm very, very concerned about his well-being in that facility.”

— Zena Stenvik, Liam's school superintendent (HuffPost)

“He wasn't in any kind of emergency or anything, physically. His dad said he hasn't been himself and he's been sleeping a lot, because he's been depressed and sad.”

— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (YouTube)

What’s next

The judge overseeing Liam and his father's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow them to be released from the detention center.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrant children and families in U.S. immigration detention facilities, where conditions have been criticized as substandard and potentially harmful to detainees' health and well-being.