A five-year-old boy who was detained by U.S. immigration authorities during a Minnesota enforcement operation has returned home after a federal judge ordered his release, according to a U.S. lawmaker.
The child, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, arrived back in a Minneapolis-area suburb on Sunday after being held for several days at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. Their return followed a court ruling that sharply criticized the government’s handling of the case.
U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas said he personally escorted the father and son from the detention facility and accompanied them back to Minnesota. In a statement shared on social media, Castro confirmed that the child was reunited with his family and returned to familiar surroundings.
Images of the boy wearing a blue hat while federal agents stood nearby outside his home circulated widely online last month, drawing national attention and public outrage. Local school officials later confirmed that the child was among several students detained during immigration operations in a Minneapolis suburb.
Court filings show that the boy and his father entered the United States legally while seeking asylum. Despite their lawful status, they were taken into custody during an enforcement action and transferred out of state, a move that legal advocates say caused unnecessary trauma.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery condemned the use of administrative immigration warrants, arguing they bypass constitutional protections. The judge wrote that the case highlighted serious failures in enforcement practices and raised concerns about the impact of such actions on children.
The ruling added to mounting pressure on federal authorities following a series of immigration operations in Minnesota and other states. Those operations have already sparked controversy after two fatal shootings involving immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Democratic lawmakers are now calling for changes to immigration enforcement, including the use of body cameras, limits on roaming patrols, and clearer rules governing arrests involving minors. Funding negotiations for the Department of Homeland Security remain stalled in Congress, with immigration policy a central point of disagreement.
Some Republican officials have also acknowledged growing tensions between federal immigration agents and local communities. City leaders warn that aggressive tactics risk undermining trust built between residents and law enforcement over many years.
The child’s release and return have become a focal point in the broader debate over immigration enforcement, particularly when children and families are involved. Advocates say the case underscores the need for clearer safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
