The father of a 5-year-old boy who was detained by immigration officers and held at a federal facility in Texas has denied government accounts alleging he abandoned his son during the return to Minnesota.
Adrian Conejo Arias, originally from Ecuador, told ABC News that his love for his son, Liam, is unwavering, opposing statements from the Department of Homeland Security which claimed he left his child in a vehicle. He further stated that Liam fell ill while in custody but was denied necessary medication.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented that Arias fled on foot before being arrested, effectively abandoning his child, and added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers remained with the boy.
“The facts in this case have NOT changed: The father, who was illegally in the country, chose to take his child with him to a detention center,” she stated.
McLaughlin did not respond to Arias’ claim regarding Liam's lack of medical care.
Arias argued that he was unlawfully detained, asserting that he was legally in the country, with an asylum request pending in court.
The incident received additional media attention following a federal judge's order for their release, which came shortly after they returned to Minnesota. Texas Representative Joaquin Castro reported the family’s reunion.
The situation unfolded during President Trump's crackdown on immigration policies, which has incited widespread protests, particularly following violent episodes involving federal officers. Just last week, the president instructed his border advisor to intensify these enforcement efforts following recent fatalities.
Despite assertions from federal officials that ICE did not target the child, McLaughlin previously described events leading to the father's detainment as abandonment, which local witnesses disputed.
Critics allege that immigration enforcement tactics have harsh consequences for vulnerable families, exemplified by the distressing images of Liam in a blue bunny hat during his detention. The family’s plight highlights the significant unrest among communities impacted by stringent immigration laws.
In a powerful rebuke, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery condemned the practices leading to such detentions, remarking that they seemed designed to meet daily deportation quotas at the expense of vulnerable individuals.
Currently, records indicate no forthcoming hearings for Arias, as the family seeks to determine their path ahead under U.S. immigration law.
