A federal judge ruled that a father and his 5-year-old son who were detained by ICE cannot be removed from the country
A father and his 5-year-old son, who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement , cannot be removed from the United States as the father pursues a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration, a federal judge in Texas ruled on Monday.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery wrote in an order that “any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, is IMMEDIATELY STAYED until further order from this Court. Respondents SHALL NOT TRANSFER Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, outside of this judicial district during the pendency of this litigation and until further Order of this Court.“ Why It Matters Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik told reporters last week that federal agents took Liam Conejo Ramos, Conejo Arias' son, from a running car in the family’s driveway and told him to knock on the door to his home to see if other people were inside, “essentially using a 5-year-old as bait.” The Department of Homeland Security said ICE “did NOT target a child.“ The incident has sparked further criticism of immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, where protests have broken out in response. President Donald Trump’s administration is carrying out a series of immigration enforcement operations in several states. Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, is detained by ICE officers after arriving home from preschool on January 20, 2026, in a Minneapolis suburb. What To Know Conejo Arias filed a lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other federal officials after he was arrested by ICE in Minnesota. When Was Liam Ramos Detained? The DHS said Conejo Arias “abandoned“ his child during the arrest by ICE on January 20. The agency said Conejo Arias was in the country illegally from Ecuador. “As agents approached the driver Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot—abandoning his child. For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias,“ DHS said on X. The family’s attorney said Conejo Arias had a pending asylum claim allowing him to stay in the country. The agency said parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a “safe person“ of the parents' choosing. “This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement,“ DHS said. Where Is Liam Ramos Now? Conejo Arias and Conejo Ramos are now at family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, near San Antonio. What People Are Saying U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, in an order: “It is further ordered that any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, is IMMEDIATELY STAYED until further order from this Court. Respondents SHALL NOT TRANSFER Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, outside of this judicial district during the pendency of this litigation and until further Order of this Court.“ Department of Homeland Security, on X: “ICE did NOT target a child. The child was ABANDONED.“ Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik, in comments to reporters last week: “Why detain a 5-year-old? You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.” What Happens Next Conejo Arias and Conejo Ramos cannot be removed until further order by the court. The legal proceedings are expected to continue. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
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