COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN — A suburban Minneapolis community is in a state of shock after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a five-year-old boy and his father earlier this week. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, has ignited a fierce debate over the tactics used by federal agents during the Trump administration’s intensified deportation efforts.
The Driveway Confrontation
According to officials from the Columbia Heights Public School District, five-year-old Liam Ramos had just arrived home from preschool with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, when they were intercepted in their driveway by masked federal agents.
Superintendent Zena Stenvik, speaking at an emotional press conference at Valley View Elementary, alleged that agents used the child as “bait” to lure other family members out of the residence. Stenvik claimed that after the father was initially approached, an agent led the five-year-old to the front door and directed him to knock, asking to be let in so officers could see if anyone else was inside the home.
“Our hearts are shattered,” Stenvik said. “Why detain a five-year-old? You can’t tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”
School officials and the family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, noted that another adult on the scene offered to take custody of the child to spare him from detention, but the request was reportedly denied. Both Liam and his father were subsequently transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas.
DHS Disputes “Bait” Claims
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a sharp rebuttal to the school district’s narrative. In a statement released Thursday, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied that the child was used as a tactic. Instead, the department alleged that the father “abandoned” the boy when he attempted to flee from agents as they approached his vehicle.
“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended [the father],” the DHS statement read. The agency further characterized the father as an “illegal alien from Ecuador,” though the family’s attorney maintains they have an active asylum case and no standing deportation order.
Vice President Vance Weighs In
Vice President JD Vance, visiting Minneapolis on Thursday to meet with federal law enforcement, dismissed the reports of “bait” as a media fabrication. Speaking at a press conference at Royalston Square, Vance placed the blame for the chaotic scene squarely on the father and local officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“What are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death?” Vance asked sarcastically, echoing the DHS claim that the father fled.
Vance argued that the “chaos” in Minnesota is the “inevitable consequence” of sanctuary policies. “If we had a little cooperation from state and local law enforcement officers, I think the chaos would go way down,” Vance said. He added that the administration would investigate any specific accusations of wrongdoing but emphasized that “99% of our ICE officers are doing the right thing” under incredibly difficult circumstances.
A Community in Fear
The arrest of Liam Ramos is not an isolated incident in the district. Superintendent Stenvik reported that four students have been detained by ICE in the last two weeks, including a 10-year-old girl taken while on her way to school.
The atmosphere in Columbia Heights has become one of pervasive fear. Administrators report that student attendance has plummeted, with nearly a third of students absent on recent days as parents fear their children may be intercepted at bus stops or in school parking lots.
“Students are watching abductions on their way to school, on their way home, and through their windows,” Stenvik said. “The sense of safety in our community is shaken.”
As of Thursday evening, Liam and his father remain in federal custody in Texas. Their legal team is currently exploring the possibility of filing a habeas corpus petition to secure the child’s release.
Sources & Links:
- CBS News: DHS says 5-year-old boy ICE took into custody in Minnesota had been “abandoned” by his father
- The Guardian: JD Vance blames local officials ‘not cooperating’ with ICE for Minneapolis violence
- MPR News: ICE detains 5-year-old Minnesota boy; lawyer says agents used him as ‘bait’
- Snopes: Minnesota school officials say ICE used 5-year-old as ‘bait’ to make arrests. Here’s what we know
- KARE 11: Vice President JD Vance criticizes local officials for not cooperating with ICE
Disclaimer
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer
AI Content Policy.
To provide our readers with timely and comprehensive coverage, South Florida Reporter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in producing certain articles and visual content.
Articles: AI may be used to assist in research, structural drafting, or data analysis. All AI-assisted text is reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our editorial standards.
Images: Any imagery generated or significantly altered by AI is clearly marked with a disclaimer or watermark to distinguish it from traditional photography or editorial illustrations.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service. In no event shall South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service.
The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice. The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.
