Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, Goes Home After Immigration Detention, Father Freed Too

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Minneapolis: Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have returned to their Minneapolis-area home after being released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, following a federal judge’s order that ended their more than week-long detention at a Texas facility.

The Ecuadorian father and son had been detained on January 20 in a Minneapolis suburb amid a broader immigration enforcement operation, and were subsequently held at the ICE family detention center in Dilley, Texas. Their release was ordered by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who sharply criticised the government’s handling of their case and mandated that they be freed no later than February 3.

Their journey home was overseen by U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, who personally picked up the pair at the Texas facility on Saturday evening and travelled with them back to Minnesota on Sunday. Castro confirmed their arrival and shared that the young boy was “now home, with his hat and his backpack,” symbolising the end of their detention and reunion with family.

The case drew national and international attention after images circulated showing Liam in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack as immigration officers took him into custody. That imagery helped fuel public outrage and renewed debates over U.S. immigration enforcement practices, especially actions involving children.

While the Department of Homeland Security maintained that the child was not specifically targeted and asserted its protocols were appropriate, civil rights advocates and lawmakers criticised the incident and called for changes in detention policies.

Local officials and community members welcomed Liam and his father’s return, celebrating their release and highlighting ongoing concerns about other families still in custody.

Photo credit: x.com/wcvbjennifer