Federal Judge Issues Temporary Order Halting Deportation of Father and Son
A federal judge has intervened to temporarily block the removal of a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father, whose arrest in Minnesota last week has ignited fresh controversy over immigration enforcement practices under the Trump administration. The case has become a focal point for the deep divisions surrounding immigration policy in the United States.
Court Order Puts Removal on Hold Pending Legal Proceedings
U.S. Judge Fred Biery ruled on Monday that any deportation or transfer of young Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, must be suspended while their court case moves forward. The father and son are currently being held at a family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, located near San Antonio, as they await further legal developments.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge Over Arrest Circumstances
The circumstances of their detention have sparked heated debate, with starkly different accounts from community members and federal authorities. According to neighbours and school officials, immigration officers allegedly used the preschooler as "bait" by instructing him to knock on the door of his family home, prompting his mother to answer and leading to the arrest.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has vehemently denied this version of events, labelling it an "abject lie." In their statement, DHS claimed that the father fled on foot, leaving the boy alone in a running vehicle in their driveway. The department reiterated that they did not arrest or target the child, though their response did not address the judge's recent court order.
Legal Status and Political Reactions Add Complexity
Federal officials have stated that the father was residing in the U.S. illegally, though specific details were not provided. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller indicated that the man entered the country in December 2024. Conversely, the family's attorney, Jennifer Scarborough, asserted that he had a pending asylum claim, which should legally permit him to remain in the country. Scarborough did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
This case underscores the ongoing tensions and procedural disputes within America's immigration system, highlighting the human impact of enforcement actions on families and communities.
