A federal judge has issued a powerful order for the release of a five-year-old boy and his father, who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from their driveway in suburban Minneapolis and transported to a detention facility in Texas.
Judge Biery's Scathing Ruling
In a ruling delivered on Saturday, District Judge Fred Biery delivered a blistering critique of President Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign. He described it as an "ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas" that appears to necessitate "traumatising children."
Details of the Detention
Liam Conejo Ramos was taken into federal custody last week after officers arrested his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, from their family home. Both were subsequently sent to an ICE detention centre in Texas. According to family members and lawmakers who visited him this week, the preschooler is reportedly sick, lethargic, and repeatedly asking for his mother.
Historical and Biblical References
Judge Biery condemned the administration's apparent "ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence" and referenced Thomas Jefferson's warnings against "a would-be authoritarian king over our nascent nation." He signed his order with a now-viral image of Liam standing in his frozen driveway, wearing a Spider-Man backpack and blue cap, which has sparked widespread outrage against the president's anti-immigration agenda.
Below the image, Judge Biery listed two Bible verses: Matthew 19:14 and John 11:35. The verse from Matthew states, "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" The verse from John is simply, "Jesus wept."
Lawmakers' Demands
In response to the case, lawmakers have been demanding the release of Liam Conejo Ramos, highlighting the humanitarian concerns and legal breaches involved. The judge's ruling underscores growing judicial pushback against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
This is a developing story, with further updates expected as the situation unfolds and the family seeks reunification and justice.
