A federal judge has mandated the immediate release of a five-year-old boy and his father from a detention facility in Texas, where they were held following their arrest in a Minneapolis suburb last month.
Outcry Over Child’s Detention Sparks Protests and Congressional Visit
Photographs showing the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, dressed in a bunny hat and carrying a Spiderman backpack amid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, have intensified public backlash against the ongoing immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota. These images prompted a demonstration outside the family detention center and a visit from two Democratic representatives from Texas.
Judge’s Ruling Highlights Government Policies and Historical References
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, in his Saturday ruling, attributed the case to what he described as a misguided government push for daily deportation targets, even at the expense of traumatizing young children. The judge, who previously blocked the deportation of Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, for the time being, emphasized the apparent disregard for foundational American principles.
Biery referenced the Declaration of Independence, noting the government’s actions resemble the grievances outlined by Thomas Jefferson against British rule. His order also incorporated a photograph of the child and two biblical passages: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,'” and “Jesus Wept.”
Daily Arrest Targets Under Scrutiny
The ruling alludes to a reported goal of 3,000 immigration arrests per day, as stated by White House policy chief Stephen Miller, framing it as an enforced quota driving these detentions.
Accusations of Using Child as ‘Bait’ in Arrest
Local residents and school administrators in Minnesota allege that ICE agents employed the preschooler as a lure, instructing him to knock on his home’s door to draw out his mother. The Department of Homeland Security has firmly rejected this claim as false, stating instead that the father escaped on foot, leaving the boy alone in a running vehicle in the driveway.
Fears Prompt Shift to Virtual Learning in Minneapolis
Concerns over ICE operations have led some students in Minneapolis to opt for online schooling to avoid potential encounters with federal agents.
Reports of Harsh Conditions at Detention Facility
During a January 28 visit by Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett, the boy appeared exhausted, sleeping in his father’s arms. Adrian Conejo Arias reported that Liam was often fatigued and struggling to eat properly at the South Texas Family Residential Center, which houses around 1,100 individuals.
Detained families have described substandard living conditions since the facility reopened last year, including worms found in meals, competition for potable water, and inadequate medical services. An internal ICE document from December confirmed that approximately 400 children were held beyond the recommended 20-day limit.
Officials from the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the ruling.
