On January 20, 2026, federal immigration agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, along with his father, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, a suburb north of Minneapolis. The incident occurred just after the boy arrived home from preschool and has prompted national debate and sharp criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates, and congressional leaders.
What Happened — The Core Facts
According to school officials and the family’s lawyer, ICE agents stopped Liam and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, in their driveway as they pulled into their home after preschool pickup. The child’s vehicle was still running when officers approached.
While the official federal narrative says the father was the intended target of the operation, local leaders dispute aspects of how the situation unfolded.
School leaders described the incident as more than a routine arrest, alleging that authorities used the young child to gain entry to the home:
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Officials said an adult family member who lived in the house offered to care for the boy, but ICE refused and insisted on keeping him with agents.
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The superintendent said agents took Liam out of the vehicle and led him to the front door, where he was asked to knock on the home to see if additional people were inside — a description she said amounted to using a 5-year-old as “bait.”
After the detention, both Liam and his father were reportedly transported to an ICE detention facility in Texas, more than 1,000 miles from their Minnesota home.
Ambiguity Over the Circumstances
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pushed back on the characterization that agents “targeted” a child or used him inappropriately. According to DHS statements:
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The father allegedly attempted to flee on foot, leaving the child behind in the vehicle.
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DHS officials claim officers then stayed with Liam — including getting him food — while the larger enforcement action continued.
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DHS also says they attempted to reunite the boy with his family after the father’s arrest.
This competing narrative has made it difficult to settle on a single, undisputed version of events, and is one reason the case has drawn intense scrutiny and debate.
The Family’s Immigration Status
According to legal documents reviewed by media outlets, Liam and his father have an active asylum case before immigration courts and no deportation order has been issued. This means their claims for humanitarian protection remain pending, and removing them from the U.S. at this stage would be legally premature.
Their attorney, Marc Prokosch, has been public about the family’s compliance with legal procedures, including entering through a U.S. port of entry via the CBP One app to seek asylum.
Community Response and Emotional Fallout
Local school and community leaders have condemned the incident for its traumatic impact on children and families. The superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Zena Stenvik, said the detentions — four children in the district over the past weeks — have led to fear among students and families and reduced school attendance.
Teachers and classmates of Liam have reportedly expressed distress over the situation, emphasizing that he was a happy preschooler beloved by peers and longing for his safe return to school.
Local and national figures have also weighed in, with some calling the detentions a sign of an overly aggressive immigration enforcement posture and a misuse of authority when it involves young children.
Federal Officials’ Defense
Senior federal officials, including those from DHS, argue the operation was lawful and focused on adults with immigration cases. They dispute allegations that children were improper targets or that the agency deliberately used a child to accomplish enforcement goals.
One Minneapolis ICE official even accused the father of abandoning his child while fleeing, a claim that sharply contrasts with school officials’ version of events. According to that argument, agents were left ensuring the child’s safety after the father ran away.
Broader Context: Escalated Enforcement in Minnesota
This incident is part of a larger pattern of intensified ICE enforcement operations throughout Minnesota, often described in official briefings and local reporting as part of a federal surge strategy. Multiple detentions, including those of teens and other young children, have been reported in recent weeks.
The enforcement activity has coincided with rising tensions — including separate incidents involving fatal shootings by federal agents and heated political disputes — making Minneapolis a focal point in national conversations about immigration policy and civil liberties.
Legal and Ethical Questions Raised
The situation raises several important questions that have resonated across political and civic lines:
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When and how should children be detained during immigration operations? Because child detention — especially of very young children — is generally seen as a last resort, this case has renewed calls for stricter protections.
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How should law enforcement balance safety with humane treatment? Even federal officials acknowledge these operations raise difficult considerations, but they argue that ensuring a child isn’t left alone takes priority.
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What legal safeguards exist for families with pending asylum cases? The fact that the family’s lawsuit is ongoing and without a removal order underscores the complexity of immigration law and enforcement discretion.
Current Status and Ongoing Developments
As of now, both the 5-year-old and his father remain in federal detention in Texas while their immigration case continues. There have been no reports of deportation, but advocates argue that prolonged detention far from family and legal counsel complicates their ability to prepare their case.
Legal advocates are pushing for clearer guidelines to prevent similar situations in the future and for more transparency from ICE and DHS about enforcement priorities and protocols, especially where children are concerned.
In Summary
This deeply human story has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate:
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A 5-year-old boy was taken into custody by ICE alongside his father after arriving home from preschool.
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School officials allege he was used as “bait,” though federal officials offer a different account centered on safety and the father’s actions.
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The family has a pending asylum claim, and no deportation order has been issued.
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Community leaders and advocates have condemned the incident as traumatic and unnecessary, while federal officials defend their conduct as lawful.
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The case highlights broader tensions over how immigration enforcement intersects with children’s rights and family unity.
