DHS releases image of illegal immigrant accused of abandoning his 5-year-old son while fleeing ICE
Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, the father of Liam Ramos, is being detained with his son in Texas after being arrested by federal immigration authorities. (Obtained by Columbia Heights Public Schools / Department Homeland Security)
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it has no record of Conejo Arias or any member of his family entering the United States using the Biden-era CBP One mobile app, contradicting claims made by the family’s attorney. DHS officials told Fox News that Arias was offered a process known as voluntary return (VR), which would have allowed him to leave the U.S. without immigration consequences, but he declined.
Democrats have alleged that Arias’ son, Ramos, was “kidnapped” while his father was being detained in Minneapolis. Columbia Heights School District Superintendent Zena Stenvik claimed the child was “used as bait.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and other Democrats shared an image online of the 5-year-old boy and asserted that he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while walking home from preschool.
DHS officials disputed those claims, stating that officers were approaching Arias when he fled and left his son behind.
“This little boy was abandoned by his own father,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “His own father was being approached by ICE agents when he ran and abandoned the child.”
McLaughlin said ICE officers remained with the child in frigid temperatures and attempted to reunite him with his mother, who refused to take custody. “Our law enforcement stayed with the child and did everything they could, which is so sad and horrific given the circumstances,” she said.
ICE officials emphasized that the enforcement action targeted the father, not the child.
“My officers stayed with the child. They cared for him,” ICE Executive Assistant Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Marcos Charles said. “They took him to get food from a drive-thru restaurant and spent hours ensuring he was taken care of. My officers did that — not his father.”
Charles added that when officers brought the boy to his residence, family members inside refused to open the door or accept custody. “They saw the young boy, and they refused to open the door and take him back,” he said.
McLaughlin confirmed that officers attempted to place the child with his mother, but she declined. At the father’s request, the boy remained with him. Both are now being detained together at the Dilley Detention Center in Texas, which houses families.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said Friday that she plans to visit the detention center next week to conduct oversight and demand answers regarding the child’s wellbeing.
“If it were up to me, we’d be at the Dilley Detention Center right now,” Crockett wrote on X, claiming the Trump Administration is blocking members of Congress from conducting oversight.
Crockett said she was outraged and added that her heart “aches for Liam’s family,” pledging to seek further information.
McLaughlin said that before being transported, the child was given food from McDonald’s and listened to music. She added that ICE policy allows parents to choose whether their children remain with them during removal proceedings or are placed with a designated safe individual, noting that the policy is consistent with past administrations.
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