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A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday that blocks the Trump administration from withdrawing 5-year-old boy arrested by immigration authorities in Minnesota last week.
Liam Conejo Ramos was taken with his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, after the couple returned home Jan. 20 from Liam’s preschool, according to Zena Stenvik, superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools. A witness said he heard an adult inside the home pleading with officers to leave the child.
The Department of Homeland Security said Conejo Arias fled from approaching officers in his car, leaving Liam behind.
“For the safety of the child, one of our ICE agents remained with the child while the other agents apprehended Conejo Arias,” DHS said.
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin denied accusations that they targeted the child, saying Liam’s mother refused officers’ attempts to have her take custody of the boy. His father agreed to keep Liam in his care.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Tuesday’s decision.
Liam and his father were both transferred from Minnesota to Texas, and the removal order says they are at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center.
Tuesday’s order prevents the father and son from being deported or transferred out of the U.S. Western District of Texas until further direction from the court.
The case drew attention from critics who accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement of using children as “bait.”
McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, defended the agency’s actions.
“Parents are asked if they wish to be removed with their children, otherwise ICE will place the children with a safe person designated by the parents,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “This is consistent with the previous administration’s immigration enforcement actions.”
School board President Mary Granlund said she was driving to pick up her own children when she saw activity near the family’s home. She insisted she saw Liam’s mother inside the house, but her husband shouted at her not to open the door, fearing immigration officers would enter.
Granlund said someone referred to her as saying a district representative was there and could take responsibility for Liam.
“There was ample opportunity to be able to safely release this child into the care of adults,” Granlund said.
The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, said they entered the United States in 2023 after making an appointment through the CBP One app. The app was created under the Biden administration to create an orderly way for migrants to enter the United States and to reduce illegal border crossings, but was shut down by President Donald Trump last year.
“This family was in no way escaping ICE,” Prokosch said last week. “They were following all established protocols in pursuing their asylum claim, showing up for their court hearings and posing no security, no flight risk should have never been detained.”
Attorneys representing the Conejo Arias family were not immediately available for comment following the judge’s order Tuesday.
Gary Grumbach is a legal affairs reporter for NBC News, based in Washington, DC.
Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.
