A 5-year-old boy was taken into federal custody alongside his father Tuesday in Minnesota, drawing sharp criticism from school officials who say the incident reflects intensified immigration enforcement in the state.
The child, Liam Conejo Ramos, was detained shortly after returning home from preschool while his father was in the driveway, according to officials at Liam’s school. The family has a pending asylum case and no active deportation order, the school said.
School Officials Describe Confrontation
In a statement, school officials said another adult in the home pleaded with agents to allow them to care for the child but was refused. Officials alleged that an agent removed the child from a running vehicle and instructed him to knock on the home’s door to check if anyone else was inside, describing the act as using a young child “as bait.”
Both the father and child remain in government custody, officials said.
DHS Disputes Account
The Department of Homeland Security rejected the school’s version of events, stating that ICE “did NOT target a child” and that the child was “abandoned” when his father fled on foot as agents attempted to make an arrest.
According to DHS, agents were executing a targeted operation to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an Ecuadorian national, when he ran from officers. One agent stayed with the child to ensure his safety while others apprehended the father. DHS said parents are asked whether they wish to be detained with their children or designate a safe caregiver.
Pattern of Student Detentions Raises Alarm
School officials said Liam’s case is not isolated. They reported that three other students in the district have recently been detained by immigration authorities.
Two weeks earlier, a 10-year-old girl was detained with her mother while walking to school and later transferred to a Texas detention center. On Wednesday, a 17-year-old student was detained by what officials described as armed, masked agents.
Community Leaders Voice Concern
“Our children should not be afraid to come to school or wait at the bus stop,” said school board chair Mary Granlund. “Families should not fear dropping off or picking up their children from school.”
Others sound the alarm, accusing DHS of denying the constitutional right to see an attorney for those detained in federal custody.
For more on immigration enforcement, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.