Liam Conejo Ramos Bio, Age, Parents, ICE Detention, Release & Story

On a bitterly cold January afternoon in suburban Minneapolis, a 5-year-old boy in a blue bunny hat became the unexpected face of America’s immigration debate. Liam Conejo Ramos—clutching his Spider-Man backpack and wearing his favorite knit hat with floppy white ears—was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside his home on January 20, 2026, sparking a national outcry that reached the White House and federal courts. Within 11 days, this Ecuadorian preschooler would be ordered released by a federal judge who condemned the government’s actions as “bereft of human decency,” his case exposing the human cost of immigration enforcement policies and igniting protests from Texas to the halls of Congress.

Now reunited with his family, Liam’s story remains a powerful testament to how one child’s image can change the conversation about justice and compassion in America.

Quick Facts

Family Background

Origin and Journey to America

Liam Conejo Ramos and his family hail from Ecuador, a South American nation grappling with economic instability, political unrest, and rising crime that has driven record emigration in recent years. Like thousands of families seeking safety and opportunity, the Conejo Ramos family made the difficult decision to leave their homeland.

Immigration Timeline:

• December 2024: The family legally presented themselves at the Brownsville, Texas border using the CBP One app—a Biden-era system allowing asylum-seekers to schedule appointments at official ports of entry
• Legal Entry: Crossed at official border point, not “sneaking across” as some reports suggested
• Settlement: Established residence in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, a working-class suburb of Minneapolis
• Status: Pending asylum case with first hearing scheduled for February 24, 2026

Family Members

Father: Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias

• Also known as Adrian Conejo Ramos
• Worked to support family in Minnesota
• No criminal record in U.S. or Ecuador (confirmed by family attorney and Ecuadorian Interior Ministry)
• Detained with Liam on January 20, 2026
• Served as Liam’s sole caregiver during 11-day detention

Mother: Erika Ramos

• Age 33, three months pregnant at time of detention
• Has legal status to be in the United States
• Went into hiding during Liam’s detention, fearing ICE would detain her if she emerged
• Suffered stress-induced bleeding requiring emergency room visit
• Maintained daily phone contact with Liam and Adrian

Extended Family:

• Uncle Luis Conejo: Adrian’s brother in Ecuador, spoke to media about family’s situation
• 13-year-old half-brother: Erika’s son from previous relationship, also in hiding

The Detention: January 20, 2026

The Arrest

Date: Monday, January 20, 2026 (Presidential Inauguration Day)
Time: Approximately 3:00 PM
Location: Family driveway, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), heavy snow

Liam had just returned home from preschool when ICE agents arrived to detain his father. What transpired next depends on who you ask—and that disagreement would fuel a national controversy.

Two Conflicting Stories

School Officials and Eyewitness Account:
According to Columbia Heights school board chair Mary Granlund, who witnessed the scene:

“An agent led him to the door and directed him to knock on the door, asking to be let in, in order to see if anyone else was home—essentially using a 5-year-old as bait.”

School superintendent Zena Stenvik reported that another adult begged agents to take custody of Liam, but was refused. The child was reportedly directed to call “Mommy, open the door” while agents stood out of sight.

ICE and Trump Administration Account:
ICE official Marcos Charles presented a different version:

“The father fled on foot when approached by ICE agents, abandoning the child alone in a running vehicle. ICE agents abided by the father’s wishes to keep the child with him… The mother REFUSED to take custody of her own child despite multiple attempts.”

Vice President jd vance defended the agents:

“So the story is that ICE detained a 5-year-old. Well, what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a 5-year-old child freeze to death? Are they not supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?”

The Viral Image

A photograph captured during the detention showed Liam standing in the snow wearing:

• Blue knit bunny hat with white floppy ears (his favorite; “Conejo” means “rabbit” in Spanish)
• Spider-Man backpack
• Plaid winter coat
• Blank, frightened expression

The image spread instantly across social media and news outlets worldwide, becoming the defining visual of immigration enforcement in 2026.

Detention in Texas: January 20-31, 2026

The Journey South

Within hours of detention, Liam and his father were:

• Taken to a local ICE facility in Minnesota
• Flown 1,300+ miles to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas
• Housed in the nation’s largest family immigration detention facility
• Population: Approximately 1,100 detainees, including hundreds of children

Deteriorating Conditions

Liam’s Physical and Mental State:

• Depression: Described as “very depressed” by visiting Congressman Joaquin Castro
• Appetite loss: Refusing food, not eating properly
• Excessive sleeping: “Sleeping a lot” according to father
• Lethargy: “Never alert” during congressional visit
• Physical illness: Stomach pain, fever, vomiting (reported by mother)
• Emotional distress: Repeatedly asking “Mommy, why don’t you pick us up?” and “Mommy, we don’t want to be here anymore. This place is ugly”

Facility Conditions (Reported by Detainees):

• Worms found in food
• Insufficient clean water; mold in containers
• Inadequate medical care
• Fighting for basic necessities
• One set of clothes per child (father washed Liam’s clothes nightly)
• Lockdown conditions disputed by ICE

ICE Response:

• Denied lockdown and poor conditions
• Stated they would “NEVER deny any illegal alien medical care”
• Attributed reports to “smears” leading to increased assaults on officers
• Congressman Tony Gonzales defended facility: “It’s better than some of our schools”

Legal Battle and Historic Release

Judge Fred Biery’s Intervention

January 27, 2026: U.S. District Judge Fred Biery (Western District of Texas, San Antonio) issued temporary restraining order:

• Prohibited removal or transfer of Liam and Adrian from Texas
• Blocked deportation while case proceeded
• Ordered government to maintain status quo

The Scathing Ruling

January 31, 2026: Judge Biery issued a historic 8-page opinion ordering release by February 3, 2026. Excerpts included:

“The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.”

“Apparent also is the government’s ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence… today people are hearing echos of that history.”

“Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency… And the rule of law be damned.”

“Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster… That is called the fox guarding the henhouse. The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer.”

Unusual Elements:

• Included photograph of Liam in bunny hat under judge’s signature
• Cited Bible verses: Matthew 19:14 (“Let the little children come to me”) and John 11:35 (“Jesus Wept”)
• Closed with Benjamin Franklin quote: “A republic, if you can keep it”

Release and Reunion

February 3, 2026: Liam and Adrian were released from Dilley detention center.

Family Attorney Jennifer Scarborough:

“We are now working closely with our clients and their family to ensure a safe and timely reunion… We are pleased that the family will now be able to focus on being together and finding some peace after this traumatic ordeal.”

Mother Erika Ramos:
Expressed relief and desire to reunite with her son and husband.

National Impact and Response

Political Reactions

Democrats Calling for Release:

• Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX): Visited Liam at Dilley, advocated for release
• Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX): Accompanied Castro, expressed health concerns
• Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX): Called for immediate release
• Rep. ilhan omar (D-MN): Represented Liam’s district, condemned detention

Republican Defense:

• VP JD Vance: Defended ICE actions, questioned alternatives
• Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX): Defended facility conditions

Public Outcry

Protests:

• Demonstrations outside Dilley facility
• January 29, 2026: Violent confrontation where Texas troopers used pepper spray on protesters calling for Liam’s release
• “Bring Liam Home” signs posted across Minneapolis
• Bunny hat became protest symbol

Media Coverage:

• Covered by CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, PBS, BBC, Al Jazeera, and virtually every major outlet
• Social media campaigns using #FreeLiam and #BringLiamHome

School Response:
Columbia Heights Public Schools:

“We are so happy to hear about the ruling. We want all children to be released from detention centers and the reunification of families who have been unjustly separated.”

Liam’s classroom kept his cubby and belongings untouched, with classmates sending video messages of support.

Operation Metro Surge Context

Liam’s case occurred during ICE’s “Operation Metro Surge”:

• Fourth child from Columbia Heights Public Schools detained in two weeks
• Part of Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown
• Target: 3,000 immigration arrests per day (per White House official stephen miller)

Current Status and Future

Post-Release

As of February 2026:

• Reunited with mother and family in safe location (undisclosed for privacy)
• Receiving care: Medical and psychological support for trauma
• Legal case: Asylum hearing scheduled for February 24, 2026
• Privacy: Family maintaining low profile after intense media scrutiny

Long-Term Implications

Liam’s case has already influenced:

• Legal precedent for judicial oversight of child detention
• Policy discussions about family separation
• Public perception of immigration enforcement
• Political debate over “deportation quotas”

The psychological impact on Liam remains to be seen, but his story has permanently shaped the immigration conversation in America.

Key Facts and Timeline

Did You Know?

• Name meaning: “Conejo” means “rabbit” in Spanish—Liam’s beloved bunny hat was thematically appropriate
• Inauguration Day: Detained on January 20, 2026, same day as Trump’s presidential inauguration
• Television recognition: While detained, Liam saw himself on TV and asked his mother “What did you do, Mami, why am I on all the channels?”
• Celebrity status: Other detainees at Dilley recognized Liam and waved to him because of media coverage
• Bilingual: Speaks Spanish and was learning English in preschool
• School impact: Fourth child from his school district taken by ICE in two weeks
• Judicial precedent: Judge Biery’s ruling may influence future child detention cases
• Swift resolution: Released in 11 days due to legal intervention—faster than many similar cases
• Family trauma: Mother’s stress-induced bleeding during detention highlighted family toll
• International symbol: Case covered by media worldwide, from BBC to Al Jazeera

FAQs

Q: Who is Liam Conejo Ramos?
A: Liam Conejo Ramos is a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy who was detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 20, 2026, becoming a national symbol of immigration policy controversy. A federal judge ordered his release 11 days later, condemning the government’s actions.

Q: Why was Liam detained?
A: ICE agents came to detain his father, Adrian Conejo Arias. Conflicting accounts exist—school officials say ICE used Liam as “bait” to get his mother to open the door, while ICE claims his father fled and abandoned him, and his mother refused custody.

Q: Where was Liam held?
A: After being taken from Minneapolis, Liam was flown over 1,300 miles to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, the nation’s largest family immigration detention facility.

Q: Was Liam released?
A: Yes. On January 31, 2026, federal Judge Fred Biery ordered Liam and his father released by February 3, 2026, calling the detention “ill-conceived” and “bereft of human decency.”

Q: What happened to Liam’s family?
A: Liam’s father was detained with him. His pregnant mother, Erika Ramos, went into hiding fearing detention. The family was reunited after release and continues their asylum case.

Q: What made this case so significant?
A: The viral image of Liam in his bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack, combined with his young age and deteriorating health in detention, sparked national outrage and became a flashpoint for immigration policy debates.

Q: Is Liam a U.S. citizen?
A: No, Liam is an Ecuadorian citizen. His family entered the U.S. legally in December 2024 seeking asylum, which is protected under international and U.S. law.

Conclusion

Liam Conejo Ramos did not choose to become a symbol. He is simply a 5-year-old boy who wanted to go to preschool, wear his favorite bunny hat, and come home to his mother. Yet in 11 days of detention, he became something larger—the human face of a policy debate that often loses sight of its human cost.

His story raises uncomfortable questions: What are the limits of enforcement? How do we balance security with compassion? When does policy become cruelty? Judge Biery’s ruling—quoting the Declaration of Independence, the Bible, and Benjamin Franklin—suggests that some truths remain self-evident, even in polarized times.

The image of a frightened child in a blue bunny hat, clutching his Spider-Man backpack, has already changed how America sees immigration enforcement. Whether it changes policy remains to be seen. But for one family in Minnesota, the important thing is simpler: Liam is home.

May all children find their way home.

Sources: CNN, ABC News, CBS News, USA Today, Associated Press, NPR, PBS NewsHour, The Independent, San Antonio Express-News, Official Court Documents