Democrats Visit Detained 5-Year-Old Boy Amid ICE Outrage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Democratic lawmakers visited a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy detained by ICE, spotlighting growing outrage over federal immigration enforcement. The boy was taken during a controversial Minnesota operation that’s drawn protests and court challenges. Lawmakers are demanding reforms and the release of detained families.
Lawmakers Visit Detained Boy: Quick Looks
- Rep. Joaquin Castro and Rep. Jasmine Crockett met 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father in Texas
- The boy was detained in Minneapolis during a large ICE operation on Jan. 20
- His arrest, including a viral photo, has sparked national backlash and protests
- DHS denies claims that agents used the child as “bait” to lure his mother
- A federal judge has blocked Liam’s deportation while legal proceedings continue
- Protests erupted outside the Texas detention center, leading to arrests and use of pepper balls
- Lawmakers say detained children are not receiving proper education
- Democrats accuse DHS of running a “lawless” operation under Secretary Kristi Noem
- Members of Congress continue facing access restrictions at ICE facilities
- Calls for ICE reform and accountability grow amid 2026 election-year pressure
Deep Look: Democrats Demand ICE Accountability After Visiting Detained Child
DILLEY, Texas — Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday visited a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy being held at a federal detention center in Texas, highlighting a case that has intensified scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
Reps. Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett met with Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, at the South Texas Family Residential Center, one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country. The visit came just days after the boy was taken into custody during a federal immigration sweep in Minneapolis, which has drawn condemnation from activists and lawmakers nationwide.
A Case That Sparked a National Reaction
The detention of the young boy, captured in a viral image showing him in a blue winter hat and Spider-Man backpack, has become a flashpoint in the debate over immigration policy. Castro described Liam as “emblematic of the monstrosity of the ICE system.”
Liam’s father told the lawmakers that the boy had been sleeping excessively, asking about his mother and school. “I would ask President Trump, who himself has grandkids around Liam’s age, to consider what it would be like for them to be behind bars,” Castro said during a press conference following the visit.
What Happened in Minneapolis?
Liam and his father were detained on January 20 during a widespread ICE operation in Minnesota. The incident has fueled outrage after reports surfaced that agents allegedly used the child to lure his mother by asking him to knock on the door of their home. The Department of Homeland Security has denied that version, calling it an “abject lie,” and claimed the father fled, leaving the child alone in a running car.
A federal judge has since issued a temporary injunction preventing their deportation while the case is reviewed.
Protest and Clashes at Detention Center
Outside the Dilley facility, tensions escalated as hundreds of protesters gathered in support of detainees. Texas state police used pepper balls to disperse the crowd and arrested two individuals after demonstrators reportedly breached a designated protest area and ignored dispersal orders. Some protesters were seen chanting and holding signs that read, “Children are not criminals!”
The Texas Department of Public Safety later defended the police response, citing public safety concerns.
Lawmakers Demand Oversight and Reform
Crockett, who is running for U.S. Senate, said that Liam was one of several children being held who reported not receiving proper education. She noted that lawmakers were told no detainees had criminal records.
“We are supposed to be better than this,” she said.
The visit is part of a broader Democratic effort to push back on Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement, particularly after the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during recent ICE operations.
Rep. Castro accused DHS Secretary Kristi Noem of overseeing a “lawless” campaign of immigration arrests. He and others are calling for her impeachment and have demanded more transparency and accountability in federal immigration operations.
Barriers to Congressional Access
Democrats have repeatedly accused the Trump administration of blocking congressional oversight at detention facilities. Minnesota Reps. Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, and Ilhan Omar were denied access to a facility near Minneapolis earlier this month. DHS claimed they failed to give required seven days’ notice under a new policy.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut was also recently denied entry to ICE centers in Texas. He called the restrictions unconstitutional and part of a broader effort to avoid scrutiny. A federal judge declined to intervene, leaving access in the hands of DHS and its private contractors.
Castro noted that detainees were allowed to voluntarily sign up to meet with him and Crockett at the Dilley facility. After the meeting, he shared a photo on social media showing Liam asleep in his father’s arms.
“I demanded his release and told him how much his family, his school, and our country loves him and is praying for him,” Castro said.
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