In a powerful demonstration of community activism, protesters assembled outside a detention facility in Texas where a young child, aged five, and his father are being held. This event unfolded on a Wednesday afternoon, as tensions flared between demonstrators and state troopers at the site where immigration officials had relocated the family after their arrest in Minneapolis just days earlier.
Liam Ramos, the pre-schooler in question, along with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on January 20th, before being moved to the Dilley facility in Texas. Advocates and some lawmakers swiftly condemned the detention, calling for the immediate release of both father and son and criticizing the Trump administration's policies regarding such cases.
The Department of Homeland Security contends that the duo crossed into the United States illegally, whereas the family's lawyer insists they adhered to the established procedures for seeking asylum upon their arrival. Community organizers, along with union representatives and faith leaders from various parts of Texas, marched toward the detention center following a nearby vigil aimed at drawing attention to the plight of children and families held against their will in such facilities.
A CNN clip captured the scene outside the facility, showcasing officers maintaining a barrier against the growing crowd of protesters. In one moment, an officer appeared to throw an object into the throng, prompting audible reactions from the demonstrators who were engaging in chants, blowing whistles, and honking horns in solidarity.
Among those visiting the facility were Texas Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett, who took the opportunity to meet with Liam and his father. Castro shared on social media, "I demanded his release and told him how much his family, his school, and our country loves him and is praying for him," alongside a touching image of the child resting in his father’s embrace. Likewise, Crockett expressed her heartbreak over the situation, stating, "My heart absolutely breaks for Liam, his family, and every person being wrongfully detained," and reassured them that efforts were being made to reunite them with their loved ones while holding accountable those responsible for what she termed as cruelty.
Representative Greg Casar also joined the chorus of voices demanding justice, emphasizing, "Today, we say with one voice, free Liam Ramos," and criticized the former president for his stance on immigration, highlighting the incongruity of a five-year-old being held in detention.
Conflicting narratives have emerged regarding the circumstances leading to Ramos's detention. Zena Stenvik, the superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools where Liam attended, shared details during a press conference, indicating that the boy had just arrived home from pre-school when ICE agents approached. According to reports, an agent actually asked the young boy to knock on the door to see if anyone else was inside the residence. When another adult offered to take Liam in, the request was reportedly denied.
Mary Granlund, a school board member present during the event, stated that she intervened, offering to take custody of Liam, but immigration officials disregarded her plea. However, in a statement on X, ICE refuted claims that the child had been unlawfully detained, asserting that the father had abandoned his son while fleeing and that agents acted to ensure the child's safety in harsh weather conditions. They argued that multiple attempts were made to facilitate the child's safety, yet the family refused to accept help.
Marc Prokosch, the lawyer representing the family, maintained that the father and son had followed all legal protocols upon entering the U.S. from Ecuador in 2024. They sought asylum at a designated port of entry, utilized the CBP One app, scheduled an appointment, and provided all required information to government authorities. "This family was not attempting to evade ICE; they complied with all necessary processes to pursue their asylum claim and posed no risk of fleeing or danger," Prokosch asserted.
Images circulated widely depict young Liam, bundled up against the cold with a Spiderman backpack and a blue bunny hat, as an ICE officer clutches his backpack. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance remarked that ICE had no alternative due to the father's purported flight.
The Department of Homeland Security has framed its current operations as targeting the most serious offenders among undocumented immigrants, aiming to enhance public safety in Minnesota. Dubbed Operation Metro Surge, this initiative has ignited considerable backlash from local residents in cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The protests in Texas are part of a larger wave of demonstrations across the nation, which have intensified following the fatal shootings of two American citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis during the same operation.
