Officials deny seeking quick end to asylum claims for the Minneapolis family of 5-year-old

Federal authorities have denied accusations that they attempted to expedite deportation proceedings for a 5-year-old boy and his father who were detained during recent immigration operations in the Minneapolis area.

The case of Liam Conejo Ramos, whose images showing him wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack while surrounded by immigration officers, sparked widespread public outcry amid the ongoing immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.

Danielle Molliver, the attorney representing Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, claimed in statements to the New York Times that the government was trying to fast-track the deportation process. She characterized these alleged actions as “extraordinary” and potentially “retaliatory” in nature.

Department of Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin firmly rejected these allegations. “These are regular removal proceedings. They are not in expedited removal,” McLaughlin stated, adding that “there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws.”

According to Molliver, an immigration judge granted her additional time to present the family’s case during a closed hearing held last Friday. This development suggests the legal process will continue along standard timelines rather than an accelerated schedule.

The father and son, originally from Ecuador, were detained on January 20 in a Minneapolis suburb. Following their arrest, they were transferred to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas, where they remained until a judge ordered their release. They subsequently returned to Minnesota on February 1.

The circumstances surrounding their detention have become highly contentious. Neighbors and school officials have accused federal immigration officers of using the preschooler as “bait” during the operation, allegedly instructing him to knock on his house door to lure his mother outside. The Department of Homeland Security has vehemently denied this account, describing it as an “abject lie.” According to DHS, the father attempted to flee on foot and left his son in a running vehicle in their driveway.

The government maintains that Conejo Arias entered the United States illegally from Ecuador in December 2024. However, the family’s legal representation contends that he has a pending asylum claim that legally permits him to remain in the country while his case is processed.

This incident occurs against the backdrop of intensified immigration enforcement activities in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, which have generated significant tension and debate within local communities. Immigration advocates have criticized the operations as disruptive to families and communities, while federal authorities defend them as necessary enforcement of existing immigration laws.

The case highlights the complex intersection of immigration enforcement policies, asylum procedures, and their impact on families with young children. Asylum seekers typically have legal rights to remain in the United States while their claims are being adjudicated, a process that can take months or even years due to the backlogged immigration court system.

Community organizations in Minneapolis have mobilized to provide support for families affected by recent immigration operations, offering legal assistance, temporary housing, and other resources. Local officials have also expressed concerns about the methods employed during these enforcement actions and their effects on community trust.

As Liam and his father’s case proceeds through the immigration court system, it continues to draw attention to the broader national debate over immigration enforcement practices and humanitarian considerations, particularly when children are involved.