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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained at least four children from the same Minnesota school district this month, including a 5-year-old boy, raising alarm among parents, educators, and local officials.
The latest case involved Liam Conejo Ramos, who was taken from his driveway Tuesday afternoon as he returned from preschool with his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, according to Columbia Heights Public Schools. DHS said Liam was not the target, but the school district says the child was effectively used as “bait” to lure his father.
Superintendent Zena Stenvik was incredulous. “Why detain a 5-year-old?” she asked at a news conference. “You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”
School officials detailed a troubling pattern: last week, ICE detained a 10-year-old fourth grader and her mother at school. Earlier this week, two 17-year-old students were removed from their car and home by armed, masked agents. In each case, parents were separated from children, and students were placed in federal custody, often far from Minnesota.
Liam’s father fled on foot when ICE officers approached, DHS said. One agent stayed with Liam while the others apprehended his father. Later, officers allegedly asked Liam to knock on the door to see if anyone else was home, the school district said. Attempts by another adult to care for the child were refused. Liam and his father are now in custody in San Antonio, Texas, and their lawyer says they have been fully following legal asylum procedures.
Liam’s pre-K teacher, Ella Sullivan, described him as “a bright young student” who “brightens the room every day.” Officials say the repeated detentions are taking a toll on the community. Mary Granlund, chair of the school board, said she has tried to keep students and families safe, but “at the end of the day, we have whistles, and they have guns.”
The detentions come amid increased ICE activity under the Trump administration, which has defended the operations as targeting immigrants with violent criminal records. But local officials say the actions, especially those involving very young children, appear disproportionate and are fueling fear in the community.
*Source: Washington Post
