Texas Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro said Wednesday he spent about 30 minutes with Liam and his father in the detention facility in Dilley, Texas
The five-year-old boy who was detained by ICE agents in Minnesota is “depressed and sad” as he continues to be in detention, a US Democratic congressman has said.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a five-year-old boy named Liam Conejo Ramos, along with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, during one of its operations in Minnesota last week.
Texas Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro said Wednesday he spent about 30 minutes with Liam and his father in the detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
“His dad said that he hasn’t been himself, that he’s been sleeping a lot because he’s been depressed and sad,” Castro said in a video posted to X.
He added that Liam was asleep during his visit.
“I am concerned about his mental state,” Castro said.
“I told everybody very clearly that the country is against what’s going on, that Liam needs to be released, that the country demands his release and that no child that’s five years old should be in detention like that,” Castro said of his visit.
Judge rules father and son duo can’t be deported
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Texas has ruled that the US government cannot immediately deport Liam and his father.
Fred Biery, a judge for the Western District of Texas, wrote in his order that “any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of” the father and his child is “IMMEDIATELY STAYED until further order from this Court”.
He added that the government “SHALL NOT TRANSFER” them out of the district “during the pendency of this litigation and until further Order of this Court.”
What has DHS said?
In a statement on X, the Department of Homeland Security said, “ICE did NOT target a child,” and that the operation was directed against his father, an “illegal alien” who “abandoned” his son when approached.
It added that Liam’s father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, was in the country illegally but did not provide details or mention any criminal history.
Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said parents targeted in ICE operations are asked if they want their children taken with them or have them placed with a person designated by the parents.
“ICE did NOT target a child,” she said, adding that Conejo Arias fled the scene as agents approached, leaving his child behind.
With inputs from agencies
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