A family’s request for asylum related to their 5-year-old son, who was reportedly “arrested” in Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has been turned down.
An immigration judge rejected the asylum claim for Liam Conejo Ramos’ family, according to a CBS News report, referencing a statement from the Columbia Heights Public School District where the child attends.
The lawyer representing the family, who hails from Ecuador, indicated plans to appeal the decision.
“Recently, a judge issued a ruling that canceled their asylum claims and ordered them to leave the United States. Since then, we have had to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Now, while that appeal is pending, the family is allowed to stay in the U.S. until a decision is made,” explained immigration attorney Pascal Nwokocha.
A report from Breitbart News highlighted that the claim about the child’s “arrest” gained traction online after Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) mentioned Superintendent Zena Stenvik’s assertion that ICE had taken the child, who was being driven to school by his father.
In response, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated, “ICE does not target children. Children are abandoned,” further explaining the situation.
On January 20, ICE carried out an operation targeting Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an undocumented person from Ecuador. When authorities tried to approach him, he fled, leaving the child behind. To ensure the child’s safety, one ICE official stayed with the boy while others apprehended the father.
Parents are typically asked if they want to be taken with their children. If not, ICE will place the children with a safe adult they designate. This process aligns with previous administrations’ immigration practices. There’s an app, the CBP Home app, that illegal immigrants can use to manage their departures and obtain a free flight and some financial assistance. The app also helps ensure a lawful return.
In a statement regarding the incident, Vice President J.D. Vance remarked that after looking into the situation, it was determined that “the 5-year-old wasn’t arrested. The father, who was in the country illegally, ran away when officials tried to take him into custody. So, ICE took the child to keep him safe. What else could they do? Leave him behind?”
Additionally, FOX News’ Bill Melgin reported that DHS confirmed the boy’s father did indeed flee from ICE agents, leaving his child in their custody.
This situation sparked a narrative among some Democrats who claimed that Liam was “kidnapped” and “targeted” by ICE as a means to capture his father.
In essence, the CBS article highlighted that a judge denied the asylum claim for the family of the 5-year-old boy, a decision that prompted significant national attention following its announcement by ICE in January.
