MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The case of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, detained alongside his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, in Minnesota has sparked significant controversy and debate regarding immigration practices under the Trump administration. Conflicting accounts have emerged from federal officials and the family’s attorney, alongside statements from neighbors, highlighting the contentious nature of this situation.
Neighbors and school officials allege that federal immigration officers manipulated the situation by instructing the preschooler to knock on their door as a means to lure the child's mother outside. These actions have been described as using the child as “bait.” However, the Department of Homeland Security refutes this characterization, branding it as an “abject lie.” They claim that the father left his son unattended in a running vehicle and fled on foot during the encounter.
This incident follows close on the heels of the controversial shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, which has further intensified discussions about the appropriateness and consequences of immigration enforcement actions.
Liam and his father are currently being held at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, where conditions for detainees have been described as inadequate. Federal officials have indicated that Adrian was in the U.S. illegally, having crossed the border without documentation in December 2024, although the family’s attorney asserts that he had a pending asylum claim, which should protect him from immediate deportation.
The situation has resulted in a significant public outcry, with school superintendent Zena Stenvik expressing her disbelief at the detention of a young child. She emphasized that ICE agents should not classify a 5-year-old in such a manner and questioned why they could not allow the child to be cared for by other responsible adults present at the scene.
School officials contend multiple individuals were willing to care for Liam, but ICE agents refused these offers. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security, insisted that ICE did not target or detain the child, claiming that the officers were primarily concerned about his welfare and attempted to hand him over to his mother.
While expressing concern over the media portrayal of the incident, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino defended the actions of agents, stating that they provided food and comfort to the child and that the failure to open the door by individuals inside the house complicated matters. Bovino argued that detaining Liam with his father was ultimately in the child’s best interest, as he could have been placed into social services otherwise.
The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, stated that he had been unable to contact Liam and his father but was exploring legal avenues to secure their release. Prokosch emphasized the urgency of the situation and the impact of prolonged detention on a young child.
ICE guidelines indicate that minors should not be taken into custody during enforcement actions and that arrangements should be made for their care if a parent is detained. However, the specifics of these guidelines have come under scrutiny, especially in cases where children are inadvertently involved.
As this case unfolds, it continues to highlight the complexities and human implications of immigration policy, as well as the ongoing debates surrounding enforcement practices under the Trump administration. The reality of Liam’s detention raises fundamental questions about the treatment of minors within the immigration system and the responsibilities of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable populations.
