Child and Father Released from Controversial Texas Detention Center

Mon Feb 02 2026 17:18:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge's recent ruling has led to the release of a 5-year-old boy and his father from a Texas immigration detention center after public outcry over their treatment, highlighting broader concerns regarding the U.S. immigration system.

Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have been released from a Texas detention center following a judge's order amid national condemnation of immigration enforcement practices. Concerns about the boy's wellbeing and the conditions in detention facilities have raised questions about the treatment of immigrant families in the U.S.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the release of a 5-year-old boy and his father from a Texas detention center amid public uproar regarding the U.S. immigration enforcement system. Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb last month, prompting protests over their treatment.

Images of Liam, wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack while surrounded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, have intensified criticism of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Following the outcry, a protest was held at the detention facility and Texas Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited the father and son.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, stated that the case reflects the troubling implementation of government policies aimed at meeting daily deportation quotas, even at the risk of traumatizing children.

In recent hearings, it has been reported that during the arrest, federal officers allegedly used the boy as 'bait' to apprehend his mother. The Department of Homeland Security has contested these claims, characterizing them as an 'abject lie', stating that the father had abandoned his son in a running vehicle in their driveway.

The detention center, which houses about 1,100 people, has received allegations of poor conditions, with detained families describing experiences such as finding worms in their food and struggling for access to clean water. Reports have surfaced indicating that at least 400 children were held longer than the recommended limit of 20 days.

During the lawmakers' visit, Rep. Castro reported that young Liam appeared tired and was struggling to eat well, reiterating the concerning circumstances under which detained families are kept.