Liam Ramos and Father Return to Minneapolis After Viral Detention

 

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have officially returned to their home in Minneapolis following a harrowing 12-day ordeal in federal custody. The pair arrived at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Sunday, accompanied by U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, who had championed their release. Their return marks the end of a high-profile saga that began on January 20, 2026, when they were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights, an event captured in a viral photo of the young boy in a Spider-Man backpack that sparked international outrage.

The release was mandated by a blistering court order from U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who condemned the detention as a product of "ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented" deportation quotas. In his ruling, Judge Biery criticized the government for traumatizing children in its pursuit of enforcement targets. The family’s legal team argued that the detention was unlawful because Liam and his father have an active asylum case pending in immigration court, meaning they cannot be legally deported until their claims are fully adjudicated.

During their time at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, Liam’s health reportedly deteriorated. His mother, Erika Ramos, shared heartbreaking accounts of the boy suffering from stomach pain, vomiting, and a fever, attributing his illness to the poor quality of food and the emotional distress of the environment. Representative Castro, who visited the facility, described Liam as "depressed and sad," emphasizing that a five-year-old child following legal parameters should never have been subjected to such conditions.

The circumstances of the initial arrest remain a point of bitter contention between the family and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Witnesses and school officials alleged that ICE agents used Liam as "bait," directing the child to knock on the door of his home to draw his mother outside. DHS has vehemently denied these claims, calling them an "abject lie" and asserting that Adrian Conejo Arias attempted to flee on foot, leaving the child in a running vehicle. Regardless of the disputed accounts, the images of the preschooler surrounded by armed agents became a flashpoint for protests across Minnesota.

While the reunion has brought immense relief to the Columbia Heights community, the family's legal battle is far from over. Although they are back in Minnesota, their asylum case remains active, and they must still navigate the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. For now, however, supporters and local officials are celebrating the return of a young boy who Representative Castro said has "moved the world." The school district has expressed hope that Liam’s release will set a precedent for other families currently facing similar detention.