URGENT UPDATE: Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have been safely reunited in Minnesota after a judge ordered their release from ICE detention. The pair returned home on January 21, 2026, following a harrowing ordeal that began when they were detained on January 20.
JUST ANNOUNCED: Democratic Texas Representative Joaquin Castro played a crucial role in their release, picking them up from the detention center in Dilley, Texas, late Saturday night and flying them back on Sunday morning. “Liam is now home,” Castro shared on social media, showcasing the emotional reunion with the young boy wearing his iconic bunny hat and carrying his Spiderman backpack.
The alarming circumstances surrounding their detention have sparked outrage nationwide. ICE officers reportedly used Liam as “bait,” instructing him to knock on his own door to draw out his father when they arrived home from preschool. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik condemned the action, calling it “appalling.” The Department of Homeland Security dismissed these claims as “abject lies,” alleging that Adrian had abandoned Liam in a running vehicle.
The image of Liam, visibly frightened and surrounded by ICE agents, has resonated deeply with the public, especially in light of recent tragedies involving immigrants. Castro and fellow Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett visited the detention facility and discovered that Liam was lethargic and longing for his mother, intensifying calls for their release.
The Conejo family arrived in the U.S. from Ecuador in 2024 and are currently engaged in an active asylum case, with no removal order against them, according to their attorney. However, the government has labeled their arrival as illegal, igniting further controversy.
In a significant legal decision, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered the pair’s return, referencing the Declaration of Independence and quoting the Bible in his ruling. He criticized the previous administration’s actions as devoid of humanity: “Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty… know no bounds.”
The judge’s ruling was underscored by a poignant photograph of Liam, alongside the biblical citation: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”
WHAT’S NEXT: The emotional toll of this ordeal raises significant questions about immigration enforcement practices in the U.S. As discussions continue around humane treatment of families seeking asylum, the story of Liam and Adrian Conejo is sure to fuel ongoing debates.
This urgent case highlights the intersection of policy and human rights, urging citizens and lawmakers alike to reconsider how vulnerable families are treated within the immigration system. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.