A federal judge has delivered a rare rebuke to the government's treatment of children in detention, ordering the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
The young boy, who became an unlikely symbol of resistance against the government's immigration policies after being detained for over a week, had been held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley since January 20th. His viral images in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack drew widespread attention and sparked protests at the facility.
In a scathing ruling, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery criticized federal enforcement policies, including the use of deportation quotas that "traumatize children." The judge's decision came as a rare reprieve for the family, who had been subjected to what critics described as unjustified detention and treatment.
According to neighbors and school officials, Liam was pulled from his car and told to knock on his family's front door, allegedly as part of a tactic used by federal agents to apprehend relatives. However, DHS officials disputed this characterization, claiming the father fled on foot while an agent stayed with Liam for his safety.
The Conejo Ramos family is seeking asylum in the United States, with their lawyer stating that they are from Ecuador and have a pending application. Federal officials maintain that the father entered the country illegally. The case has highlighted the emotional toll and deplorable conditions within family detention centers, making it a focal point in the debate over humane enforcement of immigration laws.
The judge's decision does not resolve the family's ongoing immigration proceedings or erase the fact that thousands of children remain in ICE custody, sparking concerns about the government's treatment of vulnerable populations.
The young boy, who became an unlikely symbol of resistance against the government's immigration policies after being detained for over a week, had been held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley since January 20th. His viral images in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack drew widespread attention and sparked protests at the facility.
In a scathing ruling, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery criticized federal enforcement policies, including the use of deportation quotas that "traumatize children." The judge's decision came as a rare reprieve for the family, who had been subjected to what critics described as unjustified detention and treatment.
According to neighbors and school officials, Liam was pulled from his car and told to knock on his family's front door, allegedly as part of a tactic used by federal agents to apprehend relatives. However, DHS officials disputed this characterization, claiming the father fled on foot while an agent stayed with Liam for his safety.
The Conejo Ramos family is seeking asylum in the United States, with their lawyer stating that they are from Ecuador and have a pending application. Federal officials maintain that the father entered the country illegally. The case has highlighted the emotional toll and deplorable conditions within family detention centers, making it a focal point in the debate over humane enforcement of immigration laws.
The judge's decision does not resolve the family's ongoing immigration proceedings or erase the fact that thousands of children remain in ICE custody, sparking concerns about the government's treatment of vulnerable populations.
... 5 years old, just a kid, and he's already having to deal with all this drama 
... i mean, what is wrong with our immigration system?! 
it's like they're prioritizing deporting kids over giving them a safe haven 
... the fact that the dad had to flee on foot while an agent stayed with his kid is just insane 
... and now this judge is stepping in, like a hero, but we still have thousands of kids trapped in these detention centers 
... it's time for real change 
...
. But seriously, it's about time someone spoke up about these family detention centers. It's disgusting that kids like Liam are being traumatized and treated like prisoners just because their parents are trying to seek asylum. The fact that the government is still using deportation quotas as a tactic is just infuriating... 
I mean, can you even imagine having your little one taken away from you like that? 
. I'm glad the judge finally spoke out and ordered their release, but what about all those other kids stuck in these facilities? It's just so heartbreaking 
. As a parent, it's hard to see your child go through something like this and not know when you'll get them back. Can't we find a way to treat our children with more compassion? 
! and I love how he became an unlikely symbol of resistance against the gov't's immigration policies - who wouldn't want to wear a Spider-Man backpack? 
we need to keep pushing for better treatment of all these vulnerable families! 
, this kid was just 5 and got caught up in a system that's supposed to be protecting families, not traumatizing them 
and btw, 5 year olds should never have to wear a bunny hat to school or be told to knock on their own front door 
anyway, glad the judge spoke up about this 
. The idea that his dad just had to knock on their door and they were supposed to be safe is just wild 
. It's like, hello, a kid is not going anywhere! 
I'm all for fairness in the immigration system, but this case shows us that we can do better 
.
, can't believe these gov folks are so clueless! They're literally traumatizing kids for some arbitrary quota system 
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to separate 5-year-olds from their families in the first place?! 
And now they have the nerve to say it's all about keeping our borders safe? 
. We need better policies that prioritize human rights over deportation quotas 
Like, come on, do they really expect us to believe they were just "gathering info" when they basically kidnapped a kid from his car?! 
like a middle ground would be great – maybe some sort of alternative sentencing or counseling for kids instead of just releasing them 
and now he gets to go home with his dad 
it's crazy how ppl can traumatize little kids like this 
we need more voices like this speaking up about human rights and treating ppl with dignity! 
Liam Conejo Ramos is like a symbol of everything that's wrong with our immigration system. I mean, can you even imagine bein held in detention for weeks just 'cause your family's tryin to start anew? It's wild how one tiny kid can spark so much change 
The gov is still makin decisions that affect thousands of kids and families like this, but at least this judge spoke up and gave Liam a chance to breathe again