Five-Year-Old Liam and Father Released from ICE Detention

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:31:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Judge orders the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from ICE detention in Texas, following widespread outrage and political intervention.

Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, detained in Texas after being picked up by immigration officers in Minnesota, have returned home after a judge's order led to their release. Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro confirmed their return, highlighting the community's support and the political implications of their case, which sparked outrage over immigration practices. Senator Amy Klobuchar also voiced her relief and called for immigration enforcement reforms.

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, who were detained by immigration officers in Minnesota and held at an ICE facility in Texas, have been released following a judge’s order. They have returned to Minnesota, according to Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro.

The two were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20. They were taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.

Katherine Schneider, a spokesperson for the Democratic congressman, confirmed the two had arrived home. Castro picked them up from Dilley on Saturday night and escorted them home on Sunday to Minnesota.

The Associated Press reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comments on the father and son’s release; however, there was not an immediate response.

Images of Liam wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack, surrounded by immigration officers, sparked outrage regarding the Trump administration’s stance on immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Community members and school officials alleged that federal officers used the young boy as “bait” to draw his mother out of their home. The Department of Homeland Security denied these claims, labeling them as “an abject lie” and contended that the father fled and left Liam in a running vehicle.

While onboard the plane back to Minnesota, Castro penned a heartfelt letter to Liam, informing him that he has “moved the world.” He conveyed sentiments of support, stating, “Your family, school and many strangers said prayers for you.” Additionally, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, in a social media post, voiced her contentment regarding Liam's safe return, asserting that he “should be in school and with family — not in detention,” emphasizing the need for ICE to reassess its actions.