ICE Raid Detains Five‑Year‑Old Liam Ramos and Father in Minnesota, Sparking Community Outcry
Updated (2 articles)
Operation Detains Child and Father in Columbia Heights Driveway ICE agents stopped a car in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, pulling out five‑year‑old Liam Ramos and his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias; both were transported to a detention center in San Antonio, Texas [1][2]. The father fled on foot, abandoning his son, while an officer remained with Liam until he could be secured [1][2]. The raid occurred amid a broader “Metro Surge” enforcement push targeting undocumented individuals in the state [2].
DHS Emphasizes Father Was Primary Target, Not Child Immigration officials stated the operation aimed solely at Conejo Arias, describing him as an illegal alien who fled, and asserted that the child was not a target [1][2]. One ICE officer stayed with Liam for safety while colleagues apprehended the father, and DHS offered parents the option to be removed with their children or place them with a chosen guardian [1]. Critics note the child’s detention contradicts the agency’s claim of non‑targeting [2].
Family’s Asylum Claim and School District’s Concern The Conejo family arrived from Ecuador in 2024 and holds an active asylum case that has not been ordered to close [1][2]. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik reported Liam is the fourth student detained in recent weeks, linking the raids to trauma, declining attendance, and heightened anxiety among students [1][2]. Community members and the family’s lawyer argue the family followed legal protocols and question the handling of a child in an enforcement action [2].
Federal Arrest Figures and Political Defense Amid Protests Customs and Border Protection official Gregory Bovino cited roughly 3,000 arrests in Minnesota over the past six weeks, framing the raids as lawful and community‑focused [1][2]. Vice President JD Vance defended ICE’s actions, arguing authorities could not allow a fleeing parent to endanger a child, while border officials echoed the legality of the operation [2]. The incident has ignited protests and a heated political debate across the state [2].
Sources
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1.
AP: 5‑Year‑Old Detained With Father in Minnesota Immigration Raid: Details the joint detention of Liam Ramos and his father, ICE’s claim the child was not targeted, the family’s asylum status, and local officials’ trauma concerns .
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2.
BBC: ICE Detains Five‑Year‑Old and Father in Minnesota, Lawyer Says: Highlights DHS statements, the family’s legal background, Vice President Vance’s defense, and the broader “Metro Surge” protests .
Timeline
2024 – The Conejo Ramos family arrives in the United States from Ecuador seeking asylum, later establishing an active asylum case in Minnesota. [1][2]
Dec 2025 – Jan 2026 – The federal “Operation Metro Surge” intensifies, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection official Greg Bovino reports roughly 3,000 immigration arrests in Minnesota over the preceding six weeks, prompting community concern. [2]
Jan 22, 2026 – ICE agents raid a driveway in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, and detain five‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos together with his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias; one officer remains with the child while others apprehend the father, who flees on foot. [1][2]
Jan 22, 2026 – DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin says, “We did not target a child; the operation was against the father who fled and abandoned his son,” emphasizing that the child’s detention is incidental. [2]
Jan 22, 2026 – Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik questions the raid, stating, “Why would a five‑year‑old be detained? He is the fourth student from our district taken by immigration officers in recent weeks.” [1][2]
Jan 22, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance defends the enforcement, asserting, “ICE had no choice because the father ran; we cannot let a child freeze to death while enforcing the law.” [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – Attorney Marc Prokosch notes the family “followed all established protocols” and confirms that both father and son are being held at a detention center in San Antonio, Texas. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 onward – Protesters gather across Minnesota to oppose Operation Metro Surge, while Columbia Heights schools report declining attendance and heightened trauma among students affected by the immigration raids. [1][2]