A Texas congressman has offered a rare glimpse inside a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, following the viral arrest of a five-year-old Minnesota boy that has ignited a fierce national debate. Republican Representative Tony Gonzales shared footage from the Dilley, Texas centre where young Liam Ramos was taken after his father was detained, aiming to counter what he called political "grandstanding."
Contrasting Narratives Emerge
The incident began when photos circulated showing Liam Ramos wearing a bunny-shaped beanie with tears streaming down his face as ICE agents arrested his father outside their Minnesota home. The images prompted immediate outrage and accusations that the child had been effectively kidnapped by federal authorities.
In response, Congressman Gonzales, whose district includes the Dilley facility, posted a 30-second video showing what he described as "state-of-the-art facilities." The clip depicts children studying in a well-lit library, using computers, reading books in a classroom, and playing basketball in a gymnasium and outdoor court. At all times, adults are visible supervising the children.
Political Battle Lines Drawn
"In the coming days, you'll see a lot of grandstanding by politicians at the Dilley ICE Center in my district," Gonzales stated. "It's all for show. I've been there & seen the state-of-the-art facilities & protocols that @ICEgov follows."
The congressman directly addressed allegations reported by CNN that the Dilley facility has faced complaints about prolonged stays in grim conditions, including inadequate access to water. "Our ICE agents & CBP personnel are doing their jobs, & yet again, Democrats are doing everything they can to spin the truth against law enforcement," Gonzales added.
Conflicting Accounts of the Arrest
The arrest has produced sharply conflicting narratives between Republican officials and Minnesota authorities. Vice President JD Vance asserted that ICE agents had "no choice" but to detain Liam because his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, allegedly "abandoned" his son and attempted to flee during the arrest.
"What are they supposed to do?" Vance asked during a speech in Minnesota. "Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death?" He characterised Arias as an "illegal alien" rather than a legitimate asylum seeker.
Family's Legal Claims Disputed
However, the family's attorney, Marc Prokosch, has presented a completely different account. He insists that Arias never attempted to flee and that the family had been meticulously following established asylum procedures since entering the United States from Ecuador in December 2024.
"This family was not eluding ICE in any way," Prokosch stated at a press conference. "They were following all the established protocols." He confirmed that the family had no deportation order or criminal record and had presented themselves to authorities at the border while attending all required court hearings.
Local Officials Challenge ICE Version
School officials in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, where Liam was a preschool student, have contradicted ICE's account of events. According to the Columbia Heights Public School District, the arrest occurred as Liam was arriving home from preschool.
Superintendent Zena Stenvik emotionally disputed ICE's claim that nobody would take custody of the child, stating that someone from the home asked to bring Liam inside but was refused. School board member Mary Granlund, who was present during the arrest, told reporters she offered to take custody of Liam but was denied by ICE officers.
"Why detain a five-year-old?" Stenvik questioned. "You can't tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal."
International Attention and Ongoing Fallout
The case has attracted international attention, with the Ecuadorian government confirming that its consulate in Minneapolis has contacted ICE regarding Liam's arrest and is "monitoring the situation of the child in order to safeguard their safety and well-being."
Federal officials confirmed that both Liam and his father were transported to the Dilley facility, located over 1,300 miles from their Minnesota home, after Arias insisted on keeping his son with him. The incident has renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices under the Trump administration, coming just weeks after the fatal shooting of anti-ICE protester Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota.
As the political debate intensifies, questions remain about whether the family will be deported or transferred back to Minnesota, with The Daily Mail reporting that inquiries have been made to both ICE and the family's attorney regarding their future plans.
