Preschooler, 5, Detained with His Father by ICE on Way Home from School: 'Essentially Used as Bait'

A 5-year-old preschooler was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents alongside his father in Minnesota.

On Tuesday (January 20), Liam Conejo Ramos was on his way home from school with his dad, identified as Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias by Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement shared with Just Jared.

Columbia Heights Public Schools District Superintendent Zena Stenvik said that the pair had just gotten home when ICE agents descended on them during a press conference on Wednesday, according to reporting by Reuters, The Guardian, The Washington Post and Fox 9.

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Stenvik said that Liam was taken out of his father’s car while it was still running. She alleged that agents took him to the door of his home and tried to get him to knock, saying that he was “essentially used as bait,” per Fox 9.

Although another adult was present at the home and “begged” to take care of Liam, Stenvik said that the agents did not agree and took him with his father.

Liam and his dad are in San Antonio, Texas. Marc Prokosch, the family’s lawyer “believes” that they are still together at this point, according to reporting by The Guardian.

In a statement shared with The Guardian and The Washington Post, Prokosch acknowledged that Liam and his dad were not legal citizens. However, he said that they “have been following the legal process perfectly, from presenting themselves at the border to applying for asylum and waiting for the process to go through.”

No one else was detained in the raid. Liam‘s older brother arrived home from middle school shortly after agents had departed.

In her statement shared with Just Jared, McLaughlin denied that the child was the target of the arrest.

“ICE did NOT target a child. The child was ABANDONED,” she wrote.

It continued: “On January 20, ICE conducted a targeted operation to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias an illegal alien from Ecuador who was RELEASED into the U.S. by the Biden administration.”

McLaughlin alleged that Conejo Arias “fled on foot,” saying that he was “abandoning” Liam.

“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias,” she said.

“Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement,” she continued.

It is not clear why Liam was not left with the person that reportedly “begged” to take care of him.

“Why detain a 5-year-old?” Stenvik asked. “You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”

Liam‘s teacher, Ella, described him as “a bright, young student,” per Fox 9.

“He is so kind and loving, and his classmates miss him. He comes to class every day and just brightens the room. All I want is for him to be back here and safe.”

The school district said that Liam was one of four students detained by ICE since agents descended on Minneapolis. Two of the others were 17, and the final was 10.

Just Jared Columbia Heights Public School District for additional comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.