Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos remains deeply affected by his January detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), his parents told CBS News in an exclusive April interview. More than two months after being taken into custody in Minnesota alongside his father, Liam continues to exhibit signs of psychological trauma and fears being detained again amid ongoing legal uncertainty.
Liam was detained on January 20 during an ICE operation targeting his father, Adrián Conejo Arias, for deportation. The arrest, which drew international attention, showed Liam wearing a blue bunny hat and his school backpack. The father and son were held for two weeks at the ICE family detention center in Dilley, Texas, before a federal judge ordered their release, criticizing the deportation efforts as poorly implemented and traumatizing for children.
Since their release, Liam has been under psychological care. His father described their son as “very different” from before, exhibiting hypervigilance, isolation, and behavioral changes, including reluctance to attend certain classes or play with other children. Erika Ramos, Liam’s mother, said Liam often reacts fearfully when seeing police officers, associating them with ICE.
Despite their release, Liam’s family faces continued deportation proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security recently terminated their asylum case and is appealing the court ruling that secured their freedom. The government maintains the family was deportation-ordered after receiving full due process and encourages detained parents to self-deport with their children.
The family arrived in the U.S. legally in 2023 under an asylum-seeker program that was later suspended by the Trump administration. ICE accused Adrián Conejo Arias of evading arrest and abandoning Liam during the detention, allegations he denies.
Erika Ramos said she did not open the door to ICE agents out of fear she would be detained. She believes ICE used Liam as “bait” to capture her husband. While reunited in Minnesota, the family remains fearful of being separated again, especially as they navigate ongoing legal challenges.
Their attorney warned that if the government’s appeal succeeds, the family could be detained once more and face deportation. Meanwhile, the mental health effects on Liam and the uncertainty weigh heavily on the family.
Why it matters
The case highlights the psychological impact of immigration enforcement on young children and raises questions about the implementation of deportation policies involving families. Ongoing legal appeals in this and similar cases may influence future ICE detention practices and asylum proceedings.
Background
The detention occurred during “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale ICE enforcement action in Minneapolis that faced bipartisan backlash after incidents of violence involving immigration agents. The Biden administration has faced criticism from immigrant advocates over these operations, which the Trump administration initially expanded. The family’s asylum claim was filed under a Biden-era program that replaced the Trump administration’s suspension of similar protections.
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