Vice President JD Vance confirmed that federal agents detained a five-year-old boy during a major immigration operation in Minneapolis. This revelation stirred widespread anger across the United States. The incident highlights tensions in the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration under the Trump administration.
Agents Detain Boy After Preschool
ICE officers stopped the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, as he returned home from preschool on Tuesday. They targeted his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an Ecuadorian national. According to reports, the father fled the scene on foot. Agents then took the child into custody. They transported both to a detention center in Dilley, Texas.
School officials claim agents used the boy as bait. They instructed him to knock on the door to lure out family members. This tactic drew sharp criticism from educators and advocates.
Vance Defends the Operation
Vance addressed the controversy during a visit to Minnesota. He denied that agents arrested the child. Instead, he explained that the father abandoned the boy in the cold winter weather. Agents acted to protect the five-year-old from freezing, Vance stated.
Additionally, Vance emphasized the need to enforce immigration laws. He described the father as an illegal alien. “Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death?” Vance asked reporters. He expressed pride in the administration’s efforts to secure borders.
Family Lawyer Challenges Claims
The family’s lawyer, however, disputes Vance’s account. She asserts that the family holds an active asylum case. They entered the US legally through an official port. No deportation order exists against them.
“Why detain a five-year-old?” the lawyer questioned. She argued that the child poses no threat. Witnesses reported that agents baited the father using the boy. Video evidence from past cases supports similar tactics by ICE.
Protests Erupt Nationwide
Public outrage grew quickly. Students walked out of classes in Minneapolis to protest the detentions. At least four children from the same school district faced similar actions this month.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the incident. She called it inhumane and urged an end to such practices. “How did we arrest a five-year-old?” she tweeted, sparking a political firestorm.
Broader Immigration Surge
This event forms part of ICE’s “Metro Surge” in Minnesota. The operation targets undocumented immigrants in urban areas. Critics argue it disrupts communities and harms children. Supporters, including Vance, maintain it upholds the rule of law.
As debates continue, the boy’s fate remains uncertain. Advocates call for his immediate release. The incident underscores deep divisions over immigration policy in America.
