Listen to the article
Federal Judge Orders Release of 5-Year-Old Boy and Father from Immigration Detention
A federal judge has ordered the release of a 5-year-old boy and his father from a Texas immigration detention center by Tuesday, delivering a stinging rebuke to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued the ruling on Saturday, criticizing what he called “the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.” Biery, who was appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, had previously ruled that the pair could not be removed from the United States for the time being.
The case centers on Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis, on January 20. Images of young Liam wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack while surrounded by immigration officers sparked widespread outrage across Minnesota and beyond.
Following their detention, the pair were transferred to the Dilley detention facility in Texas, a center that houses approximately 1,100 migrants. The facility has come under scrutiny for reported poor conditions, including allegations of worms in food, limited access to clean water, and inadequate medical care since its reopening last year. An ICE report from December acknowledged holding about 400 children longer than the recommended 20-day limit.
The circumstances of the detention remain disputed. Neighbors and school officials claim federal immigration officers used the preschooler as “bait,” instructing him to knock on his front door to prompt his mother to answer. The Department of Homeland Security has vehemently denied this account, calling it an “abject lie” and countering that Arias fled on foot, leaving the child in a running vehicle in the driveway.
According to government officials, Arias entered the United States illegally from Ecuador in December 2024. However, the family’s legal representation maintains that he has a pending asylum claim that legally permits him to remain in the country.
In his unusually pointed ruling, Judge Biery invoked historical and religious references, suggesting the Trump administration’s actions echoed grievances enumerated in the Declaration of Independence against King George III of England. He specifically cited complaints that the king “has sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People” and “has excited domestic Insurrection among us.” Biery even included a photograph of Liam in his ruling alongside two biblical quotes about children.
The detention sparked protests at the Texas facility and prompted visits from two Texas Democratic members of Congress, Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett. During their Wednesday visit, they observed Liam sleeping in his father’s arms. Arias reported that his son was frequently tired and not eating properly while in detention.
Biery is not alone in his criticism of ICE’s enforcement practices. A Minnesota-based federal judge with conservative credentials has similarly characterized the agency as a “serial violator of court orders” related to the immigration crackdown.
The ruling comes amid increased scrutiny of the administration’s immigration policies. White House Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller has reportedly set a target of 3,000 immigration arrests daily—a figure Judge Biery appeared to reference as a “quota” in his ruling.
The Law Firm of Jennifer Scarborough, representing Liam and his father, expressed relief at the judge’s decision, stating they were working “to ensure a safe and timely reunion” and that the family could now “focus on being together and finding some peace after this traumatic ordeal.”
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have not yet commented on the ruling or the allegations.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
Kudos to the judge for standing up for the rights of this child and his father. Ripping families apart like this is incredibly cruel and counterproductive. I hope this case inspires more scrutiny of the administration’s immigration policies.
It’s good to see the judge push back against the government’s tactics in this case. Detaining a young child like this is deeply troubling and the administration needs to re-evaluate its approach to immigration enforcement.
This is a disturbing example of the harm that overly aggressive immigration enforcement can cause. Traumatizing a 5-year-old child is unacceptable, and I’m glad the court intervened to order their release.
This is a heartbreaking case. Detaining a 5-year-old child along with his father is extremely concerning and goes against basic human decency. I’m glad the judge recognized the trauma this would cause and ordered their release.
Detaining young children with their parents is a heartless and inhumane practice that should never happen. I’m glad the judge saw through the administration’s justifications and protected this family from further harm.
The government’s pursuit of deportation quotas at the expense of children’s wellbeing is deeply troubling. This case highlights the need for major reforms to immigration enforcement policies to prevent such tragedies.
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics seem overly harsh and inhumane, especially when it comes to detaining young children. I hope this case leads to policy changes that prioritize the wellbeing of families over arbitrary deportation quotas.
While immigration enforcement is important, the trauma inflicted on this young child is unacceptable. I hope this case leads to a rethinking of policies that prioritize bureaucratic metrics over basic human decency.