In Minnesota, a contentious incident involving the detention of a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, outside their residence has ignited renewed debate over immigration enforcement approaches employed during the current administration. The accounts of government officials, the family's legal representation, school authorities, and neighbors present opposing perspectives on whether the parents were afforded sufficient opportunity to arrange care for the child before enforcement actions proceeded.
According to Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik and other local observers, federal immigration agents allegedly exploited the child's presence as a tactical element by instructing Liam to knock on the front door of their home to elicit a response from his mother. Superintendent Stenvik characterized this tactic as using a young child as “bait.” Contrarily, the Department of Homeland Security firmly rejects such a portrayal, labeling it an “abject lie.” The department maintains that the father fled the scene on foot, leaving Liam alone inside a running vehicle in the driveway.
The conflicting versions emerge in the shadow of another polarizing event in Minneapolis: the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Witnesses to that incident criticized it as an excessive use of force, while the government defended it as an act of self-defense, illustrating the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement actions in the region.
Currently, both Liam and Adrian Conejo Arias are detained in a family facility located in Dilley, Texas, a site known for reported concerns about conditions faced by detained children and families.
Federal authorities have stated that Adrian Conejo Arias entered the United States illegally, without providing detailed background information. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller announced that the father had arrived unlawfully in December 2024.
Contrastingly, the family's attorney has indicated that Mr. Conejo Arias has an active asylum claim, permitting him to remain in the U.S. while the legal process is underway. Public records show that the asylum case was initiated on December 17, 2024, and is managed by the immigration court situated within the Dilley detention center. This information suggests the coexistence of legal procedures advocating for the family’s right to remain, alongside enforcement actions predicated on unauthorized entry.
Conflicting Descriptions of the Detention Event
School officials assert that immigration agents enlisted the young child to solicit a response from residents inside the house. Superintendent Stenvik relayed that the agents directed Liam to knock on the door to verify if others were present, a method she criticized for involving a minor in enforcement tactics. The father reportedly advised the child's mother not to open the door during the encounter. Additionally, school and community officials emphasize that the agents declined offers from other adults, including a neighbor legally authorized to care for Liam, to assume custody of the child.
Conversely, government representatives, including Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, categorically deny using the child in this manner, stressing the enforcement officers' concern for Liam's welfare. McLaughlin indicated that the child was effectively abandoned and that agents sought to have the mother accept responsibility for him, assuring the mother that she would not face detention. She also stated that the child's custody remained with the father in accordance with his wishes.
During a public briefing, Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino criticized media accounts of the case as misleading. Acting Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations blamed the father for leaving Liam unattended in a vehicle during winter. Charles described efforts by officers to provide food and care for the boy post-arrest and recounted attempts to reunite the child with his family. He mentioned that individuals inside the home initially refused to accept custody of Liam but that the father ultimately requested the child remain with him. The status of Liam's mother remains uncertain in official statements.
Current Detention Conditions
Liam and his father are held in the Dilley family detention facility in Texas, a site where reports indicate worsening conditions including malnutrition, illness, and prolonged detention durations for children. Leecia Welch, chief legal counsel at Children’s Rights, who recently inspected the facility, noted a surge in the number of detained children and cited that numerous children have been detained for over 100 days. Approximately 400 children have experienced extended detention, according to administration disclosures.
Bovino drew a comparison to domestic law enforcement practices, indicating that separations of children from parents during arrests are not uncommon nationwide. He challenged other agencies to demonstrate care comparable to that provided by ICE and Border Patrol. Marcos Charles outlined that detainees receive comprehensive support services, including medical attention, nutritious food, education, religious services, and recreational opportunities.
Legal Representation and Policy Context
The family's attorney, Marc Prokosch, noted difficulties in establishing direct communication with his clients in detention and conveyed intent to explore legal and ethical avenues to secure their release.
The administration's policy refrains from specifying outcomes for children whose parents opt to have them detained simultaneously. Previously articulated guidance discourages taking custody of minors during enforcement operations and encourages allowing time for caretaking arrangements. However, the policy does not decisively address situations where parents insist on their children's presence during detention.
Experts highlight that when a parent is arrested alongside a child, the government is not mandated to detain the child, including noncitizens. The overarching requirement is to permit arrangements for alternative care if detention proceeds.
The legal ambiguity surrounding the boy’s status, potentially non-U.S. born, means his ability to remain hinges on complex immigration determinations. ICE officials affirm that the family entered the country together, signaling that the child might not possess citizenship.
Former border official Tom Homan has emphasized parental discretion in deciding whether to bring children along during deportations or leave them with others, underscoring the administration's stance on parental responsibility in such circumstances.
The broader debate engaged by this case encompasses ethical, legal, and humanitarian dimensions of immigration enforcement, particularly focusing on the treatment of vulnerable minors amidst such procedures.