At a Glance
- A 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy was detained by ICE outside his Minnesota home.
- Conflicting accounts claim the child was used as “bait” or left in a vehicle by his father.
- The family is now held in a Texas detention center while an asylum claim is pending.
Why it matters: The case highlights tensions over child custody in immigration enforcement and raises questions about the Trump administration’s policies.
The detention of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy with his father outside their home in Minnesota has become the latest flashpoint for America’s division over immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The incident, which occurred in late December 2024, has sparked heated debate among officials, neighbors, and the family’s legal counsel.
The Incident
On December 17, 2024, federal immigration officers arrived at the family’s residence. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot and left the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, in a running vehicle in the driveway. The officers reportedly told the child to knock on the door to see if anyone was inside, a tactic described by school officials as “using a 5-year-old as bait.”
Conflicting Accounts
Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik told reporters that the officers instructed the boy to knock on the door and that the father told the mother not to open it. She added that the agents would not leave Liam with other adults.
In contrast, Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin denied that the child was used as bait, stating that “ICE law enforcement officers were the only people primarily concerned with the welfare of this child.” She said officers tried to get the mother to take custody and that they “abided by the father’s wishes to keep the child with him.”
Neighbors also said they offered to care for Liam but were ignored. Mary Granlund, school board chair, claimed she had papers authorizing her to take care of the boy.
Legal Status and Policy
Federal officials say the father was in the U.S. illegally, with no details provided. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, said he entered illegally in December 2024. The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, said the father had a pending asylum claim that could keep him in the country.
An online court summary shows the case was filed on December 17, 2024 and is assigned to the immigration court inside the Dilley detention center. The U.S. Department of Justice’s “Detained Parents Directive” from July 2024 states that ICE should not take custody of children if the parent is arrested, but allows for alternate care arrangements.
Current Situation
The father and son are now at a family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, near San Antonio. Leecia Welch, chief legal counsel at Children’s Rights, reported that conditions there are severe, with many children detained for over 100 days. She said the number of children had “skyrocketed” and that “nearly every child we spoke to was sick.”
Bovino, Border Patrol Commander at Large, defended the agency’s actions, saying ICE “did everything they could to reunite him with his family.” He added that if Liam had not been with his father, he could have ended up in social services custody.
Expert and Official Statements
Greg Bovino criticized what he called the “false media narrative” about the case. Marcos Charles, acting executive associate director of ICE enforcement, faulted the father for “abandoning his child in the middle of winter in a vehicle.” He said one officer stayed with the child while others arrested the father.
Neha Desai, managing director at Children’s Human Rights and Dignity, explained that ICE’s policy requires allowing time for arrangements for a child’s care. She noted that when a parent is arrested, the government is not required to arrest the child, regardless of the child’s immigration status.
President Donald Trump acknowledged that federal agents can make mistakes in enforcing the immigration crackdown, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Impact and Reactions
The case has reignited scrutiny of ICE’s handling of minors during enforcement actions. Critics argue that the use of a child as a “bait” tool violates both policy and public trust. Supporters of the current administration’s hard-line stance point to the policy’s intent to deter illegal entry and to maintain order.
The family’s lawyer, Marc Prokosch, said he was exploring legal options to secure release for the father and son. He added that he was “looking at our legal options to see if we can free them either through some legal mechanisms or through moral pressure.”
Key Takeaways
- The detention of a 5-year-old in Minnesota has exposed stark disagreements over child custody in immigration enforcement.
- Conflicting narratives from school officials, ICE, and neighbors illustrate the complexity of the case.
- The family’s pending asylum claim and the U.S. policy on detained parents create a legal gray area.
- Conditions at the Texas detention center raise concerns about child welfare and prolonged detention.
- The incident underscores the broader debate over the Trump administration’s immigration policies and their implementation.
