Judge orders release of 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and father after Minnesota ICE arrest
A federal judge has ordered ICE to affirmatively release 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from custody by Tuesday and barred their removal while their immigration case proceeds; the pair are currently held in Texas after being arrested in a Minnesota ICE operation. The decision is a case‑specific habeas win and does not impose a broad injunction against the administration’s ongoing Metro Surge in Minnesota, which the court indicated will be addressed on a case‑by‑case basis.
📌 Key Facts
- A federal judge ordered ICE to affirmatively release 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from custody by Tuesday.
- The release order applies to both the child and the parent, who are being held in Texas, and requires their return to freedom while their immigration case continues.
- The directive is time‑bound and represents a concrete escalation of court intervention beyond a prior temporary bar on removals.
- The same ruling clarifies the court will not issue a broad injunction stopping the Trump administration’s ICE “Metro Surge”; relief will likely remain case‑by‑case.
- Despite dozens of successful emergency habeas petitions (including individual wins like the Ramos family), the underlying Metro Surge is explicitly permitted to continue pending final resolution.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, undocumented immigrants in Minnesota contributed $222 million in state and local taxes.
Undocumented immigrants contribute $222 million in Minnesota taxes — Minnesota Budget Project
Immigrants in Minnesota contributed $26 billion to the state's economy, helping to make it healthy and affordable.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
The United States and Ecuador signed an Asylum Cooperative Agreement in July 2025, allowing the US to transfer asylum seekers to Ecuador, excluding unaccompanied children.
United States and Ecuador sign Asylum Cooperative Agreement — Immigration Policy Tracking Project
Health care providers in Minnesota report that ICE presence at hospitals and facilities is deterring patients from seeking care, leading to cancellations and delays in medical appointments.
ICE operations add to health concerns for some Minnesotans — MPR News
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota resulted in over 500 arrests of illegal aliens by early 2026.
ice crackdown in minnesota: over 500 arrests to start 2026 — Facebook
Minnesota's foreign-born population grew by 24.7% from 2013 to an estimated 492,000 in 2023, representing about 8% of the state's population.
The Growth and Impact of Minnesota's Foreign-Born Workforce — Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Immigrants accounted for 94% of Minnesota's net population growth between 2020 and 2024.
Report: Immigrants Drive Economic, Population Gains in Minnesota — Twin Cities Business
From 2013-2022, undocumented immigrants in Texas had a property crime arrest rate of 38.5 per 100,000 compared to 165.2 per 100,000 for U.S.-born citizens.
What we know about unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The federal judge has now ordered ICE to affirmatively release 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from custody by Tuesday, not just pause their deportation.
- The order applies to both child and parent currently held in Texas, compelling their return to freedom while their immigration case continues.
- This is a concrete, time‑bound directive that escalates the court’s intervention beyond the prior temporary removal bar.
- In contrast to individual habeas wins like the 5‑year‑old and father case, this ruling clarifies that the court will not issue a broad injunction stopping Metro Surge; relief will likely remain case‑by‑case.
- The article underscores that despite dozens of successful emergency petitions, the underlying surge is now explicitly sanctioned to continue pending final resolution.