US seeks deportation of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos

US Seeks Deportation of Five-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is continuing efforts to deport five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias despite their recent return to Minnesota. While the family's lawyer claims DHS is seeking expedited removal, the agency denies this as 'standard procedure.' A US judge has ordered their release while they contest the deportation in court. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the child's age and the circumstances surrounding their detention.

Since December, the Trump administration has led an immigration crackdown in Minnesota known as Operation Metro Surge. As many as 3,000 agents were deployed during the operation's height. Bystander videos and photos have raised concerns about heavy-handed tactics, particularly in the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area. Two US citizens were shot dead by immigration agents in the last month alone: Renee Nicole Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24. The outcry over these shootings, along with other reports of violence against bystanders and warrantless arrests, has prompted the Trump administration to withdraw nearly 700 immigration agents this week.

The detention of Conejo Ramos and his father was one of the high-profile incidents during the crackdown. They were detained as they came home from preschool and transported to Dilley, Texas, for processing. On January 27, Judge Fred Biery ruled that they should be released while challenging their expulsion. 'They seek nothing more than some modicum of due process and the rule of law,' Biery wrote in his decision.

Conejo Ramos and his father arrived in the US from Ecuador. Their legal team states the pair entered legally and were in asylum proceedings when detained. Lawyer Danielle Molliver claims DHS filed documents to expedite their removal, suspecting it may be 'retaliatory.' 'It's really frustrating as an attorney because they keep throwing new obstacles,' she said.

The case has drawn attention due to the use of the child as 'bait' by immigration officials and allegations of heavy-handed tactics in Minnesota. The family's legal battle continues as they contest their detention and seek fair treatment under US immigration law.