In a development that has attracted significant attention, five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have been released from an immigration detention center in Texas and returned to their home state of Minnesota. Their release came under a judge's directive following their initial detainment by immigration officials in a Minneapolis suburban area on January 20.
The pair were then transferred to the ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas. Katherine Schneider, spokesperson for Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, confirmed their arrival back in Minnesota, stating that Castro personally collected the father and son from the facility on a Saturday night and accompanied them back the following day.
Efforts to obtain immediate comment from the Department of Homeland Security regarding their release were met without response. The case had sparked widespread public concern notably due to the poignant image of Liam, sporting a bunny hat and a Spider-Man backpack, surrounded by immigration officers during his detainment, fueling criticism of the federal administration's enforcement approach in Minneapolis.
Reports from neighbors and local school officials suggested that immigration officers used the young child as a means to gain access to his family home by instructing him to knock on the door so that his mother would open it. However, the Department of Homeland Security refuted these claims, labeling them as “abject lies” and instead stated that the father attempted to flee on foot, leaving Liam unattended inside a vehicle with the engine running, parked in their driveway.
Amid the unfolding situation, Congressman Castro wrote a personal letter to Liam during their flight to Minnesota, highlighting the collective support the child had received and the impact of his story. "Your family, school and many strangers said prayers for you and offered whatever they could do to see you back home," Castro expressed on social media, reinforcing the message that Liam's place is in America—a nation strengthened by its immigrant population.
In a related response, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota welcomed Liam’s return publicly. She emphasized that the child should be focused on education and family life rather than enduring detention and called for the cessation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities related to such cases.