Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken from his home in Minnesota during an immigration operation and is now being held with his father in a detention center in South Texas, more than 1,300 miles away. Since then, he has been unable to attend school and has repeatedly asked why he cannot go home.
After visiting the detention center, Joaquin Castro said the child appeared withdrawn and distressed. According to his father, Liam has been eating poorly and often asks when they will be released. He also asks about his classmates and wants to return to school.
Liam has also been asking about personal belongings taken during the arrest, including his backpack and a rabbit-eared hat. School staff said these items were part of his daily routine and important to his sense of comfort. They say their loss has added to his confusion and emotional distress.
School officials and community members say the detention has affected many children and families. Several lawmakers have called for Liam’s immediate release, stating that his family entered the United States legally while seeking asylum and that keeping a young child in detention is harmful.
The Department of Homeland Security said the operation was aimed at arresting Liam’s father and that officers acted with the child’s safety in mind. Father and son remain together in detention, while calls for their release continue.