ICE Releases 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos from Custody, Lawyer Says
In a dramatic turn of events, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos, from custody after a court order mandated their release. The family's ordeal began earlier this month when they were detained by ICE in Minnesota.A Family's Ordeal
Liam and his father were held at the Dilley ICE detention center, a facility in Texas designed to house immigrant families with underage children who have been accused of violating federal immigration law. According to representatives for the family, they are from Ecuador and entered the U.S. in 2024 under a now-defunct Biden-era system that allowed asylum-seekers to use a phone app to schedule an appointment to be processed at an official border entry.
DHS Denies Targeting Child
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has said that it has no record of the family using that app, formerly known as CBP One. DHS officials have also alleged that ICE officers tried to get Liam's mother to take him in, but that she refused to do so. However, individuals who have spoken with the family dispute this claim, saying Liam's mother did not open the door out of concerns she would also be arrested by ICE.
Rep. Joaquin Castro Intervenes
In a statement to CBS News on Sunday, Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, posted on social media that he had picked up Liam and his father and escorted them back to Minnesota. This intervention came after U.S. District Judge Fred Biery directed government officials to release Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos and his son from detention 'as soon as practicable'.
The release of Liam and his father is a significant development in the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the treatment of migrant families by ICE. As this story continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the role of government agencies in enforcing immigration laws and the impact on vulnerable populations like children.
