A preschooler, accompanied by his father, was returning home when a distressing incident unfolded in Minnesota, according to school officials. The child, identified as Liam Conejo Ramos, aged five, characterized by a blue tuque and a Spider-Man backpack, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the driveway of their Columbia Heights residence. The superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Zena Stenvik, condemned the situation, stating that the child was essentially used as a lure while federal officers pursued his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias. Despite pleas from another adult at the scene to allow them to attend to the child, the agents proceeded to involve the young boy in their operation. Liam and his father are currently being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Centre in Dilley, Texas, as confirmed by the family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch.
The detention of children and families seeking asylum was criticized by Prokosch as “inhumane and unacceptable.” Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis, has been at the center of a significant immigration crackdown, resulting in widespread protests and tension since the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agents on January 7. The Department of Homeland Security maintained that ICE did not target the five-year-old but was instead conducting a focused operation to apprehend his father, described as an “illegal alien from Ecuador.”
In response to the incident, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance clarified that the child was taken into custody because his father fled the scene, leaving the child behind. He emphasized the necessity of ensuring the child’s safety in such circumstances. The fate of Liam following the arrest remains undisclosed, as the Department of Homeland Security has not provided information on his current whereabouts.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the reported detainment of the child, denouncing the actions as part of the Trump administration’s “campaign of retribution.” The governor highlighted the need for safety and freedom for Minnesotans, expressing dismay over the situation. School officials revealed that Liam was the fourth student from their district to be apprehended by ICE agents in recent weeks, underscoring the distressing trend of targeting minors in immigration enforcement operations.