Judge Orders 5-Year-Old’s Release from ICE Detention

A federal judge has mandated the release of a five-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, following their detention during an immigration raid in Minneapolis. The order was issued after a viral image surfaced showing Liam, wearing a bunny hat and carrying a Spider-Man backpack, surrounded by federal agents on January 20. This event has sparked widespread condemnation across the nation.

Immigration Detention and Judge’s Ruling

On Saturday, the U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ruled that both Ramos and his father must be released from federal custody by Tuesday. The judge criticized the government’s aggressive deportation policies that reportedly traumatize children. He remarked, “The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas.” Biery, who is the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, was appointed by former President Bill Clinton.

The U.S. government claims that both Ramos and Arias entered the nation unlawfully. However, their attorney, Marc Prokosch, insists they arrived to seek asylum legally.

Protests and Support for Ramos

• Protests erupted in Minneapolis, calling for an end to ICE operations in the area.
• Texas congressional Democrats visited the Dilley Detention Center to advocate for Ramos and his father’s release.
• Rep. Joaquin Castro noted that Ramos was becoming “depressed” while in custody.

Judge Biery’s decision coincided with increased scrutiny on federal immigration operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul—dubbed “Operation Metro Surge.” Recent violence involving federal immigration agents has prompted calls for the operation’s end, with local leaders seeking to reform or abolish ICE entirely.

Continued Legal and Political Battles

In light of the ongoing legal battles, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and local mayors have filed a lawsuit alleging that federal immigration operations infringe upon state sovereignty. Although a judge denied a request to halt the federal immigration raids, concerns about racial profiling and excessive use of force by ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents were raised.

This situation presents a broader debate about immigration policies and the treatment of children within this contentious framework. The judge’s ruling has emphasized the urgent need for reform and adequate protective measures for vulnerable populations in similar circumstances.

As this legal and political struggle continues, activists and lawmakers are determined to fight for the rights and well-being of individuals affected by these policies.