A young boy and his father, who were detained by immigration officials in Minnesota and later transferred to Texas, have been released and have returned to Minnesota. The release came after a judge’s order. Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were initially detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 before being moved to a detention center in Dilley, Texas.
According to a spokesperson for Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, the father and son have safely arrived back home in Minnesota. Castro personally picked them up in Dilley on Saturday night and accompanied them back to Minnesota on Sunday.
Images of the boy, wearing a bunny hat and carrying a Spider-Man backpack, surrounded by immigration officers sparked criticism of the Trump administration’s actions in Minneapolis. Castro even wrote a letter to Liam during their flight back home, reassuring him that many had prayed and supported his return.
The letter was shared on social media, with Castro emphasizing that America’s strength and prosperity were built on immigrants. Photos shared on social media showed Liam in his blue bunny hat and Pikachu backpack. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota expressed relief that the boy is back and stressed that children like him belong with their families, not in detention.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, criticized the government’s pursuit of deportation quotas, especially when it leads to traumatizing children. Neighbors and school officials claimed that federal immigration officers used the boy as “bait” to approach his house, while the Department of Homeland Security refuted these claims, stating that the father fled and left the boy in a vehicle.
The community’s support and legal intervention have ensured the safe return of Liam and his father, highlighting the ongoing debate over immigration policies and their impact on families.