Imagine being five years old, far from your mom and school, held in a detention center. This is the heartbreaking reality for Liam Conejo Ramos, an Ecuadorian boy recently detained with his father by federal agents in Minneapolis. His story has quickly become a powerful symbol, fueling outrage over recent immigration policies.
Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited Liam and his father, Adrian, at a Texas facility. Castro described Liam, whose widely circulated photo shows him in a Spider-Man backpack, as “emblematic of the monstrosity of the ICE system.” Liam’s father shared that the boy misses his mom, his classmates, and simply wants to go back to school.
The circumstances of Liam’s detention are deeply contested. Neighbors allege federal officers used Liam as “bait” to get his mother to open the door – a claim fiercely denied by the Department of Homeland Security, who stated the father fled and left the boy in a running car. A federal judge has temporarily blocked their removal from the U.S., as the father’s asylum claim is pending.
This incident is part of a broader federal immigration operation that has sparked massive protests and even led to fatalities in Minneapolis. Democrats are using cases like Liam’s to push back against immigration crackdowns, demanding releases and calling for accountability within ICE. Lawmakers like Castro urge President Trump to consider the children behind bars, questioning the humanity of such policies.
Outside the detention center, supporters rallying for detainees faced state police and chemical irritants, underscoring the intense emotions surrounding these policies. The story of Liam highlights the profound human cost of immigration enforcement, prompting a nationwide conversation about compassion and justice for vulnerable families.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/texas-detention-boy-father-ice-9.7066020?cmp=rss
