A young boy and his father who were detained by immigration authorities in Minnesota and transferred to a facility in Texas have been released as per a court order. The pair, identified as Liam Conejo Ramos and Adrian Conejo Arias, were initially arrested in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20 before being relocated to Dilley, Texas.
According to a spokesperson for Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, the father and son have returned to Minnesota. Castro personally picked them up from Dilley on Saturday evening and accompanied them back home on Sunday.
Pictures of the child, wearing a bunny hat and carrying a Spider-Man backpack, surrounded by immigration officials sparked public outcry regarding the enforcement actions under the Trump administration in Minneapolis.
While en route to Minnesota, Castro penned a letter to Liam, emphasizing the widespread support and prayers from family, school, and strangers. The congressman reassured the boy that he has made a significant impact.
Social media posts showcased images of Liam in his signature bunny hat and Pikachu backpack, shared by Castro. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, expressed relief at the child’s return, affirming that he belongs with his family and in school, not in detention.
The release was facilitated by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio, Texas, who criticized the government’s pursuit of deportation quotas at the expense of traumatizing children.
Following public scrutiny, neighbors and school officials claimed that immigration officers allegedly used the preschooler as “bait” by instructing him to knock on his home’s door to lure his mother outside. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security refuted this account, stating that the father fled on foot, leaving the child in a running vehicle at their residence.
