A federal judge in Minnesota has issued an emergency order preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from deporting or relocating a 5-year-old U.S. citizen after the child was taken into custody earlier this week.
The boy, identified as Liam Conejo Ramos , was detained on Tuesday while accompanying his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos, during her arrest by immigration authorities. While Liam is a U.S. citizen by birth, his father is not and currently faces a pending deportation order.
According to ICE, the agency temporarily took custody of the child after determining that no immediate guardian was available and asserting that his father was unfit to care for him at the time of detention. ICE also claimed that Hennepin County child protection services declined to assume responsibility for the boy.
County officials, however, disputed that account, stating that they were not asked to take custody in the manner described by federal authorities.
Attorneys representing the family swiftly filed an emergency petition in U.S. District Court, arguing that ICE lacked legal authority to detain a U.S. citizen child and warning that the boy could be removed from Minnesota without court intervention.
On Wednesday, U.S. A District Judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking ICE from transporting, transferring, or deporting Liam Ramos outside the jurisdiction of the District of Minnesota. The order requires that the child remain in the state until at least February 3, 2026.
The judge also directed ICE to allow daily in-person visits between Liam and his court-appointed guardian. The judge emphasized that the order is temporary and intended to preserve the child’s stability while the court reviews the matter more fully.
A follow-up hearing has been scheduled for February 3, where the court will determine whether further restrictions or long-term arrangements are necessary.
The case has drawn widespread attention from immigrant advocacy groups and legal experts, highlighting ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement actions and child welfare protections. While ICE maintains that its actions were taken in the child’s best interest, family attorneys argue that detaining a U.S. citizen child under immigration authority is both unlawful and deeply traumatic.
Don’t miss the full breakdown in “Yale Expands Financial Aid, Making Tuition Free for Families Earning Under $200,000”-read this blog to understand who qualifies and why it matters right now.
