Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo and Father Detained in Minnesota

In a recent development that underscores the ongoing debates surrounding immigration in the United States, a federal judge has intervened in the case of a young Ecuadorian boy and his father. The pair, whose arrest in Minnesota last week quickly became a flashpoint, are at the center of a legal battle reflecting broader national tensions.

On Monday, U.S. Judge Fred Biery issued a temporary restraining order, effectively halting any move to deport or transfer 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias. This decision ensures they remain at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, located near San Antonio, as their legal proceedings unfold.

The arrest of the father and son outside their Minnesota residence has drawn widespread attention and criticism. Witnesses, including neighbors and school officials, allege that the federal immigration officers used questionable tactics, purportedly employing the young boy as “bait.” According to these accounts, the officers instructed Liam to knock on his own front door to lure his mother outside.

In response to these allegations, the Department of Homeland Security has firmly denied this version of events, labeling it an “abject lie.” The agency contends that the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, attempted to evade capture by fleeing on foot, leaving his son, Liam, in a car with the engine running in their driveway.

This case continues to be a potent symbol of the contentious immigration policies and enforcement actions under the Trump administration, reflecting the deep divisions and emotional responses they provoke nationwide.

The Department of Homeland Security has called that description of events an “abject lie.” It said the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot and left the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, in a running vehicle in their driveway.

Ramos’ attorney, Jennifer Scarborough, and the Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment about the ruling.

Federal officials say the father was in the U.S. illegally, without offering details. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said the man entered the country without proper documents in December 2024.

The family’s attorney said he had a pending asylum claim allowing him to stay in the country.

This is a breaking news story. More details will be added as more information becomes available.