5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos Released From ICE Detention

Mon Feb 02 2026 00:18:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Young boy and his father detained in Minnesota return home after a legal battle. Their release highlights ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement tactics.

Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old, and his father have been released from an ICE detention facility in Texas, following a judge's order. The duo, originally detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20, captured widespread attention due to controversial tactics reportedly employed by immigration officers. With contributions from Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, who facilitated their return, the release underlines traveling sentiments about America's immigration policies, stressing that families should stay together. Advocates urge the need for reform in ICE practices.

After a legal intervention, five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have been released from the ICE facility in Texas, returning to Minnesota where they faced initial detention. The duo's situation had ignited significant public outrage, particularly regarding what many described as alarming immigration enforcement tactics employed during their arrest.

On January 20, Liam and his father were detained in a suburb of Minneapolis, reflecting the contentious strategies of ICE personnel. Activists have suggested that the young boy was used as 'bait' to lure his mother into the open, a claim the Department of Homeland Security has deemphasized as false, asserting that the father fled while leaving the child in a vehicle.

Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro confirmed the safe return of Liam and his father, having escorted them home himself. In a letter addressed to Liam, Castro noted the widespread prayers and support from the community, emphasizing that such children belong in schools and with families rather than detention centers.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar echoed these sentiments in welcoming Liam upon his return, condemning the enforcement tactics and calling for reform in ICE's operational approaches. This case illuminates the broader debate surrounding immigrant rights and treatment within the U.S. system, positioning Liam's story as both a personal and a national issue.