A federal judge has mandated the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, concluding a contentious detention case that has ignited national debate. The pair, originally apprehended in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20, were held at a facility in Dilley, Texas, before their return to Minnesota on Sunday, confirmed by Representative Joaquin Castro’s office.
The case’s origins trace back to the father’s unauthorized entry from Ecuador in December 2024, though his legal representative confirms a pending asylum claim currently permits his stay in the U.S. The detention gained notoriety after images circulated of the young boy, distinguished by his blue bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack, surrounded by federal officers, provoking public outcry against the administration’s enforcement tactics.
In a scathing judicial order, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery condemned the government’s approach, attributing the case to an “ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.” This sentiment was echoed by local community members and school officials who alleged officers used the preschooler as “bait” to coax his mother to the door—an accusation the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) vehemently denies, labeling it an “abject lie.” DHS maintains the father attempted to flee on foot, leaving the child alone in a running vehicle.
The government’s stance was articulated by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who stated ICE did not target the child and that his mother refused custody following the father’s apprehension. McLaughlin reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to “restoring the rule of law and common sense to our immigration system,” vowing to continue efforts toward the “arrest, detention, and removal of aliens who have no right to be in this country.”
The release was met with celebratory responses from Democratic lawmakers. Rep. Castro, who personally escorted the family home, penned an inspirational letter to Liam during their flight, asserting, “America became the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth because of immigrants not in spite of them.” Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Ilhan Omar also welcomed the pair’s return, with Omar posting a symbolic photo holding Liam’s backpack on social media.