Columbia Heights 5‑year‑old held in Texas as immigrant families protest outside ICE facility
Immigrant families and supporters traveled to a Texas family detention facility where 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father are being held after a Minnesota immigration enforcement operation, protesting outside the center and coordinating with Minnesota‑based advocates and legal teams to demand their immediate release back to Minnesota. Organizers say Liam’s case — tied by protesters to Minnesota’s Operation Metro Surge — highlights the cruelty of detaining children with pending asylum claims, while the family says they entered the U.S. the “right” way.
📌 Key Facts
- As of Jan. 25, 2026, immigrant families and supporters have traveled to and are protesting outside a Texas family detention facility where 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father are being held.
- Protesters are highlighting Liam by name and framing his case as emblematic of the cruelty of detaining children with pending asylum claims.
- Organizers and demonstrators tie Liam's detention directly to Minnesota’s Operation Metro Surge and to the father's earlier detention in Minnesota.
- Demonstrators are demanding the immediate release of Liam and his father and their return to Minnesota.
- Protest efforts at the Texas facility are being coordinated with Minnesota‑based advocates and legal teams.
📊 Relevant Data
Violence in Ecuador, including a sharp increase in homicides and organized crime activities, has led to a surge in displacement and migration, with thousands fleeing to the US-Mexico border in 2025.
Violence Transforms Ecuador's Migration Landscape — InSight Crime
Immigrants in Minnesota contributed $26 billion to the state's economy in 2025, accounting for nearly 60% of the labor force growth from 2019-2023.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
The foreign-born population in Columbia Heights, MN, was 20.7% from 2019-2023, representing about 4,560 people, with the overall population growing by 1.89% since 2020.
Columbia Heights, MN | Data USA — Data USA
Children in immigration detention experience high rates of mental health issues, with meta-analyses showing prevalence of major depression at 32% and PTSD at 17% among detained children.
The impact of immigration detention on children's mental health — PMC
The Flores Settlement Agreement requires that children in immigration custody be held in safe conditions and limits detention time, generally to no more than 20 days, with protections enforced by federal courts in 2025.
Federal Court Enforces Flores Settlement Agreement, Shields Immigrant Children from Prolonged CBP Detention — Children's Rights
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Immigrant families and supporters have traveled to and are protesting outside the Texas family detention facility where 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father are being held.
- The protest highlights Liam by name, ties his case directly to Minnesota’s Operation Metro Surge, and frames him as a symbol of what organizers call the cruelty of detaining children with pending asylum claims.
- Demonstrators are demanding immediate release of the boy and his father back to Minnesota, and are coordinating with Minnesota‑based advocates and legal teams.