ICE Detains 5-Year-Old Boy and Father in Minnesota Amid Immigration Crackdown

A 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, on January 20, 2026. The incident occurred as they arrived home from preschool.

According to Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik, ICE agents removed Liam from the family's running vehicle, led him to the front door, and instructed him to knock to see if others were inside. Stenvik described this as "essentially using a 5-year-old as bait."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that ICE was conducting a targeted operation to arrest Conejo Arias, whom they identified as an "illegal alien" from Ecuador. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, "ICE did NOT target a child." She added that Conejo Arias fled on foot, abandoning his child, and that for the child's safety, an ICE officer remained with him while others apprehended his father.

Stenvik noted that the family has an active asylum case with no deportation order. She also reported that this is the fourth student from the district detained by ICE in recent weeks, including a 10-year-old girl and two 17-year-old students. These actions have led to increased fear and decreased school attendance among students.

The incident has sparked criticism from local officials and community members, who express concern over the impact of such enforcement actions on children and families. The DHS maintains that its operations target individuals violating immigration laws and that children are not the focus of these actions.