ICE Accused of Using 5-Year-Old as 'Bait' in Contentious Minnesota Immigration Arrest
Federal immigration agents in Minnesota have been accused of using a five-year-old boy as 'bait' to facilitate the arrest of his father, igniting a fierce debate over enforcement tactics under the Trump administration. The incident, which occurred outside the family's home, has become a lightning rod for America's deep divisions on immigration policy, with contradictory narratives emerging from government officials, the family's legal representatives, and local witnesses.
Contradictory Accounts of a Preschooler's Detention
Neighbors and school officials assert that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers instructed the young boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, to knock on his own front door, allegedly to prompt his mother to answer. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik described this action as 'essentially using a 5-year-old as bait.' She reported that the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, warned the child's mother inside not to open the door. Furthermore, school officials claim that agents refused to release Liam into the care of other adults present, including a neighbour with documented authorisation from the parents.
In stark contrast, the Department of Homeland Security has labelled these allegations an 'abject lie.' Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated that the father fled on foot, abandoning the boy in a running vehicle in their driveway. She emphasised that ICE officers were primarily concerned with the child's welfare, attempting to persuade the mother to take custody while assuring her she would not be detained. 'Officers even assured her she would NOT be taken into custody,' McLaughlin said, adding that they ultimately honoured the father's request for the child to remain with him.
A Pattern of Controversial Enforcement Actions
This incident follows closely on the heels of another highly contentious event in Minneapolis, where the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer was witnessed as a blatant abuse of power, though defended by the government as self-defence. The father and son are now detained at the family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, near San Antonio. Federal officials state the father was in the U.S. illegally, with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller specifying an entry date of December 2024. However, the family's attorney, Marc Prokosch, contends he had a pending asylum claim, legally permitting his stay.
An online court summary confirms the case was filed on 17 December 2024 and is assigned to the immigration court within the Dilley detention centre. Prokosch noted his inability to directly contact his clients and is exploring legal avenues to secure their release, citing both legal mechanisms and moral pressure.
Debate Over Detention Conditions and Policy
The Dilley facility has been criticised for its conditions. Leecia Welch, chief legal counsel at Children’s Rights, reported after a recent visit that the number of detained children has 'skyrocketed,' with many held for over 100 days, and nearly every child spoken to was ill. The Trump administration acknowledged in December that approximately 400 children faced extended detention.
ICE officials defended their actions and the care provided. Marcos Charles, acting executive associate director of ICE enforcement, faulted the father for abandoning his child in winter and stated officers provided food and attempted family reunification. He described the family centres as offering 'top-notch care,' including medical services, good food, learning, church, and recreation.
The administration's 'Detained Parents Directive' from July states that ICE should not take custody of children encountered during enforcement actions, allowing parents to make alternate care arrangements before detention. However, it does not specify procedures when parents request their child remain with them. Neha Desai of the National Center for Youth Law highlighted that the government is not required to arrest a child when detaining a parent, and ICE policy mandates time for care arrangements.
The child's immigration status remains unclear; if not legally in the U.S., he could be subject to deportation with his parents. Former Trump border czar Tom Homan has stated that parents of U.S.-born children can choose to take them when deported or leave them with relatives, framing it as a basic parenting decision.
This case underscores the ongoing tensions and complex human realities within America's immigration enforcement framework, raising profound questions about procedure, welfare, and the treatment of families in the system.
