In a recent immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, federal agents detained a 5-year-old child, Liam Conejo Ramos, along with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, according to school authorities and the family’s legal representative. The incident occurred as Liam returned from preschool at their residence in a Minneapolis suburb.
Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik recounted that authorities intercepted Liam outside his home while the child was in a running vehicle in the family driveway. Agents reportedly instructed Liam to knock on the family’s door to check for others inside the home, effectively placing a young child in a role that raised serious ethical questions. The child's mother, who was present, was advised by the father not to open the door.
The family, originally arriving in the United States in 2024, currently maintains an active asylum claim and has not received an order to depart the country. Superintendent Stenvik highlighted the incongruity between the child’s detention and the notion of danger, questioning why enforcement actions would target a young child unlikely to be labeled a threat.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson clarified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focused on detaining the father, described as an undocumented individual from Ecuador. The spokesperson noted that the father fled from the scene on foot, reportedly leaving the child behind. To ensure the child's safety, one officer stayed with Liam while others completed the apprehension.
ICE officials also stated that parents have the option to be deported alongside their children or to arrange for child custody with designated individuals. Minnesota has recently been a focal point for federal immigration operations, with approximately 3,000 arrests made over a six-week period, as mentioned by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official overseeing local enforcement efforts.
Contrary to official assertions, school and community leaders expressed that the father did not flee. Another adult resident was present at the residence during the incident and was willing to care for Liam, yet agents declined to leave the child in their custody. Efforts by neighbors and school board members to provide temporary guardianship for Liam were likewise refused.
The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, reported that Liam and his father have been transported to an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas, where they are presumed to be held in a family detention unit. Legal representatives have yet to establish direct contact and are exploring options for their release via legal avenues or public advocacy.
On the political front, Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis leaders and acknowledged awareness of the child's detainment. He later emphasized that the boy was detained, not arrested, referencing his personal experience as a parent of a similarly aged child in his remarks defending law enforcement's actions.
Conditions at the Dilley facility have been characterized by children's legal advocates as increasingly dire, with reports of malnutrition, illness, and prolonged detention periods exceeding 100 days. These conditions underscore concerns regarding the welfare of immigrant children under federal custody.
Within the Columbia Heights Public Schools district, which serves a predominantly immigrant student population totaling approximately 3,400 students, attendance has declined notably following the detainment of several students, including other minors aged 10 and 17. Superintendent Stenvik noted ICE agents frequently patrol neighborhoods and schools, contributing to an atmosphere of trauma and apprehension among students and families.
Educators have vocalized the emotional toll of these enforcement activities. Liam’s teacher described him as a kind and affectionate student who is missed by his peers, expressing a desire for his safety and return to the classroom.