Dozens of immigrant families gathered in a powerful demonstration on Saturday, protesting behind the fences of a Texas detention facility where a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father were recently transferred after being detained in Minnesota. The protest, captured in aerial photographs by The Associated Press, showed children and parents bundled in jackets and sweaters, with some holding signs bearing messages such as "Libertad para los niños," which translates to "Liberty for the kids."
Voices from the Detention Centre
Outside the facility, families could be heard chanting "Libertad!" or "Let us go," according to Eric Lee, an immigration attorney who was present to visit a client at the South Texas Family Residential Center in the town of Dilley. Maria Alejandra Montoya Sanchez, a 31-year-old detainee, emphasised the families' plea for dignity in a phone interview with the AP following the demonstration. She stated, "The message we want to send is for them to treat us with dignity and according to the law. We’re immigrants, with children, not criminals." Montoya Sanchez and her 9-year-old daughter have been held at the Dilley facility since October.
Case of the 5-Year-Old Boy Sparks Outrage
The detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, in Minnesota on Tuesday has ignited further controversy amid America's deep divisions on immigration policy under the Trump administration. Conflicting accounts from government officials, the family's attorney, and neighbours have emerged regarding whether the parents were given a fair opportunity to arrange alternative care for the child before their detention.
Escalating Tensions in Minneapolis
Earlier on Saturday in Minneapolis, tensions were heightened when a federal immigration officer shot and killed a man, prompting hundreds of protesters to take to the frigid streets. This incident added to the unrest in a city already reeling from another fatal shooting weeks prior, underscoring the volatile climate surrounding immigration enforcement.
Internal Organisation and Conditions
Montoya Sanchez revealed that the protest was organised internally by families who are exhausted by prolonged detention and harsh conditions. Advocates have reported issues including food contaminated with worms, frequent illnesses, and inadequate medical access. Eric Lee, an attorney from Michigan, noted that he later learned from clients inside the facility that the demonstration was linked to Liam Conejo Ramos' case. During a scheduled client visit, Lee witnessed guards entering the waiting room and ordering everyone out, highlighting the restrictive environment.
Lee commented on the bravery of the protesters, stating, "That children and their parents would risk retribution under these conditions to speak up is a testament both to how courageous they are and how abysmal the conditions of this place is." According to a report filed in December by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of an ongoing federal lawsuit, hundreds of children have been held at the facility beyond the court-mandated limit, raising serious legal and humanitarian concerns.
Legal and Humanitarian Implications
The protest underscores the broader challenges faced by immigrant families in detention centres, with calls for reform growing louder. As the situation develops, the case of the 5-year-old boy and his father continues to draw attention to the need for more humane treatment and adherence to legal standards in immigration proceedings.
