Reunited: Liam Conejo Ramos and Father Released from Detention Center
Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old boy from Columbia Heights, has been reunited with his father in Minnesota after being released from an immigrant detention center in Texas by a judge's order. They arrived in Minneapolis on Sunday morning. Rep. Ilhan Omar shared a photo of them at the airport, and Rep. Joaquin Castro escorted them back to Minnesota from the Dilley Detention Center in Texas, thanking those who advocated for their release.
The detainment of Liam had caused public outcry when a photo of him in ICE custody surfaced. The family's attorney clarified that they are legally in the country and are seeking asylum, attending court hearings and posing no safety threat. They were held for civil immigration violations, with the attorney alleging that ICE agents used Liam as 'bait' during the arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security disputed the attorney's claims, stating that Liam's father had abandoned him and tried to flee from agents. DHS said ICE officers attempted to return the boy to his mother, but she declined to take him. Ultimately, the father agreed to have the child remain with him in custody, with ICE agents caring for the boy during the operation.
In conclusion, Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have been reunited in Minnesota after being released from an immigrant detention center in Texas. The family's attorney asserts their legal status and pursuit of asylum, while the Department of Homeland Security refutes claims of mistreatment during the arrest.