In a concerning incident that has sparked outrage among local officials, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained a 5-year-old boy during an enforcement operation in Minnesota. The child, identified as Liam Ramos, was with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, when ICE agents approached the family’s home on Tuesday.
According to Zena Stenvik, the superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Liam had just arrived home from preschool when the incident occurred. Stenvik expressed disbelief, questioning, “Why detain a 5-year-old? You can’t tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”
The school district provided photographs showing Liam, wearing a bunny-shaped winter hat, standing outside as an officer held onto his backpack. Stenvik said that the school district had been present at the Ramos’ home to provide support during the incident.
Marc Prokosch, a lawyer representing the family, told journalists that Liam and his father were likely being held at a detention centre in Texas. School officials stated that Conejo Arias had an active asylum case with no deportation order.
This incident is part of a broader immigration crackdown in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge. Gregory Bovino of the US Border Patrol defended the operation, stating that it is “lawful, targeted, and focused on individuals who pose a serious threat to this community.”
However, the detention of a young child has drawn widespread condemnation from local and state officials. Mary Granlund, the chair of the Columbia Heights Public
