Judge Orders Release of 5-Year-Old Liam Ramos from ICE Detention

Federal Judge Demands Immediate Release of Minneapolis Child

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to release 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian from immigration detention by Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in a scathing ruling that criticizes Trump administration immigration policies. The father and son were arrested in January in a Minneapolis suburb by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and have been held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas - nearly 2,000 kilometers from their home.

Controversial Arrest Sparks National Outrage

The case gained international attention after photos circulated showing the young boy surrounded by ICE agents. 'This is ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government policy designed to meet daily deportation quotas, even if it means traumatizing children,' wrote U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in his ruling. The judge's order prohibits any transfer or removal of the family while their asylum case proceeds.

Neighbors and school officials allege that Liam was used as 'bait' by being asked to knock on his own door in hopes his mother would answer. 'We saw the footage on social media - it was heartbreaking,' said a teacher from Columbia Heights Public Schools who asked to remain anonymous. 'This child was taken from his classroom and used in a law enforcement operation.' ICE denies this account, claiming the father attempted to flee during the arrest.

Protests Erupt at Texas Detention Facility

The detention sparked protests at the Dilley facility, where on January 28, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in riot gear clashed with approximately 150 demonstrators. Troopers used pepper spray and pepper ball grenades to disperse the crowd, resulting in two arrests. 'We're working toward a safe reunification,' said the family's attorney in a statement to reporters.

The case has become emblematic of broader concerns about ICE enforcement tactics under the Trump administration. According to a Council on Foreign Relations analysis, the administration has implemented 'the largest domestic deportation operation' in U.S. history, with expanded powers for federal, state, and local officials to enforce immigration laws.

Broader Immigration Policy Context

Liam's case follows other controversial ICE actions in Minneapolis, including the fatal shootings of activists Alex Pretti and Renee Good. The agency faces accusations of excessive force and arbitrary arrests based on racial profiling. Despite massive street protests across the U.S., substantive changes to ICE operations have yet to materialize.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress have made ICE reform a condition for their approval of President Trump's budget. 'This isn't just about one child - it's about whether we want to live in a country that treats vulnerable families this way,' said Representative Joaquin Castro after visiting the Dilley facility.

The family, originally from Ecuador, had a pending asylum case with no deportation order at the time of their detention. Their release order represents a significant judicial pushback against aggressive immigration enforcement that has seen ICE become the largest federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.