UPDATE: February 1—5-year-old Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were seen leaving the detention center and boarded a plane out of Texas to be reunited with wife and mother in Minneapolis, MN.
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Federal Judge Fred Biery has ordered the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates. They were both arrested in a suburb of Minneapolis and many observers have stated that the child was used as “bait” to extract his father.
The Law Firm of Jennifer Scarborough, which represents Liam and his family, confirmed the decision in a statement Wednesday, saying it is working “to ensure a safe and timely reunion.”
“We are pleased that the family will now be able to focus on being together and finding some peace after this traumatic ordeal,” the firm said.
Liam and his father Adrian Conejo Arias, who is originally from Ecuador, had been held at a family detention facility that houses approximately 1,100 people. During a Wednesday visit to the facility by U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett of Texas, the child slept in his father’s arms. Castro later said the boy appeared exhausted and had not been eating well while in detention.
“His father told us Liam was frequently tired and struggling,” Castro said, describing conditions inside the facility.
Accounts from other detained families have raised broader concerns about conditions at the center since it reopened last year. Detainees have reported issues including worms found in food, fights over access to clean drinking water, and inadequate medical care. In December, ICE itself acknowledged in a filed report that roughly 400 children had been held longer than the agency’s recommended 20-day limit for minors in detention.
Advocates argue that prolonged detention can be especially harmful to young children, citing physical and psychological stress. The case of Liam Conejo Ramos has become a focal point in ongoing debates over the treatment of families and children in immigration custody.
Castro and Crockett said their visit was intended to provide oversight and to push for accountability regarding detention conditions. Both lawmakers have called for alternatives to detention for families with children and for stricter adherence to existing guidelines.
ICE has not publicly commented on the judge’s order or on the specific allegations raised by detainees at the facility.
For Liam and his father, the ruling offers an immediate path out of detention. Their legal team said it will continue working with authorities to finalize their release and reunification process.
The case comes amid renewed national attention on immigration detention practices, particularly involving minors, and adds to mounting pressure on federal agencies to address conditions and compliance with established standards.
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