US Immigration Crackdown: Father Detained Using Five-Year-Old Boy as Bait
In a troubling incident highlighting the increasing tensions surrounding US immigration policies, federal agents detained a five-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, while attempting to apprehend his father. This event took place in the family’s driveway on a Tuesday afternoon, as reported by Zena Stenvik, the superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools. In a statement, she described how authorities asked Liam to knock on his own door to see if anyone was inside, effectively using the child as bait.
Background of the Detention
The family is currently involved in an active asylum case and has not been ordered to leave the U.S. The boy’s father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, originally from Ecuador, is alleged to be in the country illegally. According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, ICE was not targeting the child, but was conducting an operation to arrest his father.
Safety Concerns Raised
After the arrest, McLaughlin stated that one ICE officer remained with Liam while other agents pursued his father, who reportedly fled the scene. Ms. Stenvik expressed her concerns regarding the decision to detain the child, asking, “Why detain a five-year-old?” This sentiment was echoed by family attorney Marc Prokosch, who described the treatment of the family as cruel, given their compliance with the immigration process.
Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota
The incident is part of a broader pattern of immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, where DHS-led operations have intensified. Greg Bovino, a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol official, noted that roughly 3,000 individuals classified as dangerous offenders were arrested in just six weeks. However, some legal advocates, like Julia Decker of the Immigrant Law Centre of Minnesota, have raised questions about the accuracy of the government’s statistics regarding detentions.
Impact on Local Schools
- Liam is the fourth student from Columbia Heights Public Schools recently detained by ICE.
- A 17-year-old was taken while heading to school on the same day as Liam’s detention.
- Another ten-year-old and another seventeen-year-old have also been apprehended.
Columbia Heights Public Schools has about 3,400 students, largely from immigrant families. Since the recent sweeps, school attendance has noticeably declined, with reports of one-third of students absent on certain days. Liam’s teacher, Ella Sullivan, described him as “kind and loving,” and expressed concern for his safety and well-being.
The rising number of immigration crackdowns continues to provoke discussions about fair treatment, safety, and the impact of such actions on children and families in the community.
