Judge Orders Release of Detained Father and Son Amid Immigration Controversy

Mon Feb 02 2026 19:44:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge has mandated the release of a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father from a Texas immigration detention facility, following public outcry and criticisms directed at the government's family separation policies.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery's ruling comes after images of Liam, wearing a bunny hat and holding a Spiderman backpack, went viral and sparked protests against the treatment of immigrant families. The detention facility where they were held has faced severe allegations regarding poor living conditions for children, including inadequate food and medical care.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — In a significant legal decision, a judge has ordered the U.S. government to release a 5-year-old boy and his father from a Texas detention center. The pair was taken into custody last month in a Minneapolis suburb, sparking outrage and protests across the country.

The case gained traction after poignant images surfaced showing Liam Conejo Ramos, clad in a bunny hat and carrying a Spiderman backpack, as he was surrounded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. This incident has intensified criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly regarding the treatment of children and families.

Please refer to apnews.com to learn more. Demonstrations erupted at the detention center, leading to a visit from two Texas Democratic Congress members, who expressed concerns about the traumatic impact of such policies on children.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery characterized the government's actions as deriving from “ill-conceived” directives aimed at meeting quotas for deportations, even at the cost of young children's well-being. Previous rulings already barred the immediate deportation of Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias.

Witnesses alleged that ICE agents used the child as “bait” to lure his mother to the door, a claim that the Department of Homeland Security has vehemently denied, stating instead that the father fled, leaving the boy alone in a running car.

During a congressional visit on January 28, Reps. Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett observed the conditions at the facility, where Liam reportedly struggled with fatigue and poor nutrition. The detention center is known for overcrowding and has been criticized for substandard living conditions, including reports of worms in food, lack of clean water, and inadequate medical care.

The facility reopened last year and has since been scrutinized for holding numerous children beyond the recommended 20-day limit as per federal guidelines.