Dozens of immigrant families held a protest on Saturday at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. This protest was sparked by the recent detention of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, who were apprehended earlier in the week in Minnesota. Aerial images captured by The Associated Press depicted families, including children, bundled in jackets and sweaters, holding signs reading "Libertad para los niños," which translates to "Liberty for the kids."
Participants could be heard chanting "Libertad!" or "Let us go!" as they gathered behind the facility's fences. Eric Lee, an immigration attorney present for the protest, highlighted that the families aimed to convey a message of dignity and legal treatment, asserting they were immigrants with children, not criminals. Maria Alejandra Montoya Sanchez, a 31-year-old detained mother, expressed their plea to be treated fairly, having been held at Dilley with her 9-year-old daughter since October.
The case of Liam Conejo Ramos has ignited intense discussions surrounding immigration policies during the Trump administration. The narratives provided by government officials contrasted sharply with those from the family's attorney and neighbors, leading to disputes over the adequacy of opportunities allowing the parents to arrange care for their child. The situation escalated in Minneapolis the same day when a federal immigration officer was involved in a shooting, inciting protests and further unrest in the city.
Montoya Sanchez reported seeing the father and son briefly during the protest, but Marc Prokosch, an attorney for the Conejo family, did not respond to requests for comments on the evolving situation. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security was not available to provide immediate insights on the matter at hand.
The protest was reportedly a grassroots effort organized by the detainees, frustrated by prolonged detention and unsatisfactory living conditions, which advocates have criticized for being substandard. Issues cited include food contamination, frequent illness, and lack of proper medical access. Attorney Eric Lee remarked on the courage exhibited by the families, as they dared to protest amid fears of potential retribution, a reflection of both their bravery and the grim conditions at the detention center.
Reports indicate that hundreds of children have been held in Dilley beyond the mandated court limits, as highlighted in a federal lawsuit involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ongoing circumstances have drawn attention to the urgent need for humane treatment of immigrant families facing the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.
The demonstrations on Saturday were emblematic of the mounting tension and emotional strain faced by families within detention centers, emphasizing the broader struggles within the ongoing immigration debate in the United States.
