Overview
- Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were released from the Dilley, Texas, family detention center and escorted back to Minnesota by Rep. Joaquín Castro, whose office confirmed their arrival home.
- U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered their release "as soon as possible" and no later than Feb. 3, barred any transfer or deportation under the order, and criticized enforcement tied to daily deportation targets.
- ICE detained the pair on Jan. 20 in the Minneapolis area before transferring them to Texas, an arrest that drew national attention after photos of the child in custody spread widely.
- Accounts of the arrest remain disputed, with neighbors and school officials alleging agents used the child as bait, a claim DHS called a "complete lie" while asserting the father fled and left the child in a running vehicle.
- The family says they entered via CBP One and have a pending asylum claim as scrutiny of family detention persists, including reports of poor conditions and past instances of children held longer than recommended.