The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released an image of Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, the father of a five-year-old boy, who allegedly abandoned his son while fleeing from federal law enforcement agents. The incident occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has ignited significant political debate regarding immigration enforcement tactics and child welfare.
DHS officials clarified that Conejo Arias was the target of the law enforcement action, not his son, Liam Ramos. Following the father’s flight, DHS personnel remained with the child, providing care and ensuring his safety. Fox News obtained the released image of Conejo Arias, an Ecuadorian national who was in the United States without legal status and had been previously allowed to remain in the country under the Biden administration.
The incident has sparked accusations from some political figures, including Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, and Ilhan Omar, a U.S. Representative, who have claimed that the child was effectively targeted. Additionally, Zena Stenvik, the superintendent of the Columbia Heights school district, expressed concern, stating that Liam was “used as bait” during the enforcement action. In contrast, DHS officials maintain that they were pursuing the father solely and that the child was not the focus of their operation.
During a press conference, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “This little boy was abandoned by his own father. His own father was being approached by ICE agents when he darted, ran, and abandoned the child.” McLaughlin emphasized that the officers on the scene took care of Liam, providing him food and trying to facilitate a reunification with his mother, who ultimately refused to take him in.
According to Marcos Charles, the Executive Assistant Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE, his officers spent hours ensuring that Liam was looked after after his father fled. Charles noted that the agency had no record of Conejo Arias or his family entering the United States through the Biden-era CBP One mobile application, contradicting claims made by the family’s attorney.
The situation escalated when Conejo Arias was approached by ICE agents. Reports indicate that he ran from the scene, leaving Liam behind. ICE officials clarified that their focus was on the father and not the child. “My officers did everything they could to reunite him with his family,” Charles stated, adding that when they attempted to contact the boy’s mother, she refused to open the door and accept him back.
In response to the incident, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, announced her intention to visit the Dilley Detention Center, where both Conejo Arias and Liam are being held. She expressed her outrage over the situation and the broader implications for immigration enforcement. “If it were up to me, we’d be at the Dilley Detention Center RIGHT NOW getting answers,” she wrote on social media platform X.
The DHS has stated that they offer options for parents during immigration enforcement actions, including the possibility of being removed with their children or designating a safe person for their children to stay with. This practice is consistent with policies from previous administrations.
As the debate continues, the incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement methods and the welfare of children involved in such operations. The conflicting accounts from various stakeholders underline the complexities surrounding immigration policy and its impact on families.
