On January 20, 2026, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota—a suburb of Minneapolis—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a targeted operation to apprehend Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an Ecuadorian national described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an individual released into the U.S. under the prior administration and present without legal status.
According to DHS and ICE statements, as agents approached the father in the family’s driveway shortly after he and his 5-year-old son, Liam Conejo Ramos, returned home from preschool, Conejo Arias fled on foot, leaving the child behind in the vehicle. For the boy’s safety amid cold weather, an ICE officer stayed with him while others pursued and apprehended the father. Officials stated that attempts were made to place the child with family members or others present, but the father ultimately chose to have the boy remain with him during removal proceedings. Both were transported to a family detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
Initial media reports and statements from Columbia Heights Public Schools officials, including Superintendent Zena Stenvik, described the incident differently. They portrayed Liam as having been directly detained by ICE upon arrival home, with allegations that agents removed the child from the car and used him “as bait” by directing him to knock on the door to check for others inside. School leaders expressed outrage, noting this as part of a pattern of recent enforcement actions affecting students in the district, and emphasized that the family had a pending asylum case with no deportation order at the time.
The competing narratives quickly polarized coverage and public reaction. Outlets such as ABC News, The Guardian, PBS, and The Washington Post highlighted the school’s account, focusing on the child’s young age, the emotional impact, and criticisms of aggressive enforcement tactics under the current administration. Vice President JD Vance addressed the matter during a visit to Minnesota, asserting that the child “wasn’t arrested” but was safeguarded after being abandoned by his father, whom he referred to as an “illegal alien.”
DHS pushed back sharply against characterizations of ICE “detaining” or targeting the 5-year-old, issuing statements and social media posts declaring: “ICE did NOT target a child. The child was ABANDONED.” They framed the media and school portrayals as misleading, emphasizing that officers prioritized the boy’s welfare rather than leaving him unattended.
The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, disputed elements of the official account, arguing the family had entered legally to seek asylum in 2024, complied with court processes, and posed no risk. He called the child’s removal “inhumane and unacceptable.” Disputes also arose over whether the mother or others offered to take custody and were refused.
The episode fueled broader debates over immigration enforcement priorities, family separations, and media framing of such incidents. A fundraiser for the family reportedly raised over $100,000 amid the outcry. The case illustrates how rapidly initial reports—often based on local eyewitness or school statements—can clash with federal agency explanations, leading to accusations of sensationalism on one side and deflection on the other.
5-year-old asylum seeker detained as ICE expands enforcement in Minnesota – ABC News
Liam Ramos, 5-year-old taken by ICE in Minnesota, is in Texas – The Washington Post
ICE arrest of 5-year-old in Minneapolis sparked fresh outcry. Here’s how it unfolded | CBC
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