Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Saturday, January 31, 2026, following a federal court order. The pair had been detained in Minnesota on January 20 and transferred to a facility in Dilley, Texas. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery directed their release, stating that continued detention was unjustified and criticized federal enforcement policies, including deportation quotas that he said 'traumatize children.'
Key Developments
- Release Ordered: Judge Biery mandated the release of Liam and his father 'as soon as practicable,' and they were escorted back to Minnesota by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX).
- Public Outcry: Images of Liam in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack went viral, sparking widespread condemnation of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics.
Background and Context
Detention Details
Liam and his father were detained in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, after returning from preschool. Neighbors and school officials reported that federal agents used Liam to lure his mother by instructing him to knock on the family’s door. DHS officials disputed this, stating the father fled on foot, leaving Liam in a running vehicle.
Legal and Political Reactions
- Judge’s Ruling: Biery’s order criticized the Trump administration’s enforcement policies, comparing them to historical injustices and quoting biblical verses. He emphasized the emotional toll on children in detention.
- Government Response: DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE’s actions, stating the agency did not target the child and that the father entered the U.S. illegally in December 2024.
- Political Responses: Democrats, including Reps. Castro and Ilhan Omar, celebrated the release, while conservative outlets criticized the judge’s ruling as politically motivated.
Ongoing Immigration Debate
The case highlights tensions over immigration enforcement, with advocates emphasizing the humanitarian impact of detention on families. The family’s asylum application remains pending, and potential deportation proceedings could follow.
Public and Media Reaction
The story drew bipartisan attention, with some framing it as a symbol of harsh immigration policies and others defending ICE’s actions as necessary for enforcing immigration laws.