Minnesota officials and the Trump administration hold conflicting perspectives on the recent detention of a five-year-old boy by immigration authorities in a Minneapolis suburb. After the incident involving Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained in his driveway after preschool, school district representatives, the family’s attorney, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their actions. On the other hand, federal officials, including U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, stated that the boy was not a primary target but was apprehended during the arrest of his father, identified as an “illegal alien.”
According to the superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, ICE agents used Liam as “bait” during the arrest, with another adult at the residence attempting to care for the child but being denied by the agents. The child was then escorted to the door and instructed to knock, purportedly to check for other occupants in the house. School officials detailed the chaotic scene at the Columbia Heights home during the arrest, emphasizing the distressing situation.
In contrast, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE’s actions, stating that agents did not target the child but stayed with him after his father fled on foot. This was allegedly done for the child’s safety while the father was apprehended. The family’s lawyer disputed the characterization of Liam’s father as an “illegal alien,” asserting that both father and son had legally entered the U.S. and applied for asylum in 2024.
During a press briefing, Vance supported the DHS’s account, insisting that ICE agents had no alternative but to ensure the preschooler’s safety. The lawyer mentioned that they have not yet filed a habeas corpus petition but indicated it could be part of their legal strategy moving forward.