AT A GLANCE
- A federal judge ordered the release of Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, and his father from ICE custody by Tuesday.
- The ruling sharply criticizes the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy and daily arrest targets.
- The child and his father were detained in Minnesota and transferred to a Texas family detention center in Dilley.
- The judge barred their removal from the U.S. for now and cited concerns about trauma to children.
Judge Condemns ICE Tactics in Family Detention Case, Must be Released by Tuesday
A federal judge has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release a 5-year-old boy and his father from a Texas detention center, delivering a scathing rebuke of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement approach.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who sits in San Antonio and was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, ruled Saturday that the government’s actions stemmed from what he described as “ill-conceived and incompetently implemented” efforts to meet deportation quotas—even when that meant traumatizing children.
The order requires ICE to release Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, by Tuesday.
Arrest Sparked National Backlash
The case drew widespread attention after photos circulated showing Liam wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack while surrounded by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The images intensified criticism of immigration enforcement practices in Minnesota and beyond.
Liam and his father were detained Jan. 20 in Columbia Heights, a Minneapolis suburb, before being transferred to a family detention center in Dilley, Texas. Judge Biery has already ruled that they cannot be deported at this stage.
Disputed Accounts of the Arrest
Neighbors and school officials alleged that agents used the preschooler as “bait,” asking him to knock on his home’s door so his mother would answer. The Department of Homeland Security rejected that account as false, claiming Arias fled and left the child in a running vehicle.
Federal officials say Arias entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in December 2024. His attorney counters that Arias has a pending asylum claim that allows him to remain in the country.
Court Invokes History and Scripture
In an unusually pointed ruling, Biery referenced the Declaration of Independence, comparing the administration’s actions to grievances once leveled against King George III, including sending “Swarms of Officers to harass our People.” He also included a photo of Liam and cited Bible passages, writing “Jesus wept.”
Biery is not alone. A Minnesota-based federal judge with conservative credentials recently described ICE as a serial violator of court orders tied to the enforcement crackdown.
Quotas, Conditions, and Congressional Response
White House policy chief Stephen Miller has publicly cited a target of 3,000 immigration arrests per day—numbers Biery appeared to reference as de facto quotas.
The detention prompted protests at the Dilley facility and a visit by Texas Democrats Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett. Castro said the boy appeared exhausted and was not eating well.
Families held at the center have reported poor conditions, including contaminated food, limited access to clean water, and inadequate medical care. ICE has acknowledged that about 400 children were held longer than the recommended 20-day limit in December.
The Law Firm of Jennifer Scarborough, representing the family, said it is working to ensure a safe and timely reunion. Spokespersons for the Department of Justice and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
