No change
Federal developments include a judge’s refusal to recuse himself in a Minnesota DHS/ICE matter and a separate ruling denying asylum to the family of 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose January arrest with his father during Operation Metro Surge drew national attention. Columbia Heights Public School District called the decision "heartbreaking," the family’s lawyers said they will appeal, and Judge Fred Biery had previously ordered the pair released while criticizing daily deportation quotas that "traumatize children."
📌 Key Facts
- On March 19, 2026, an immigration judge denied the asylum claims of the family of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos.
- Liam and his father were arrested in January during Operation Metro Surge, a case that drew national attention.
- Judge Fred Biery had previously ordered the government to release Liam and his father and sharply criticized the Trump administration’s pursuit of daily deportation quotas, saying they 'traumatize children.'
- Columbia Heights Public School District described the asylum denial as 'heartbreaking.'
- The family’s attorneys said they will appeal the immigration judge’s ruling.
📊 Relevant Data
In fiscal year 2024, the asylum grant rate in U.S. immigration courts dropped to 35.8%, down from higher rates earlier in the year, with denial rates reaching nearly 80% under accelerated policies implemented in late 2024 and 2025.
Asylum Grant Rates Decline by a Third — TRAC Reports
Ecuadorian immigrants in Minnesota numbered approximately 15,102 in 2025, representing 0.26% of the state's population, with a significant portion being families fleeing violence in Ecuador.
Ecuadorian Population in Minnesota by City : 2025 Ranking & Insights — Neilsberg Research
From mid-December 2025 to mid-January 2026, about two dozen people in Minnesota were stopped by ICE without reasonable suspicion, with allegations of racial profiling targeting Somali and Latino individuals based on appearance.
In 2024, the CBP One app, used by asylum seekers to schedule appointments, faced glitches and limited language access, restricting asylum access and leading to cases where records of usage were disputed or missing.
An already glitchy app could worsen migrant plight under Biden's new asylum actions — KPBS
Deportation of undocumented family members in mixed-status households could lead to a 48% drop in median household income, from $75,500 to $39,000, affecting 5.5 million U.S.-born children as of 2024 projections.
Proposed 2024 Mass Deportation Program Would Socially and Economically Devastate American Families — Center for Migration Studies
Immigration drove Minnesota's population growth from 2020 to 2024, adding over 81,000 new residents, becoming the leading component amid declining natural growth.
Immigration became the leading component of population growth in Minnesota this decade — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
The Biden administration's 2023 family reunification parole program allowed Ecuadorians to enter the U.S. legally through sponsorship, contributing to increased migration amid Ecuador's violence and economic crises.
U.S. opens new path to entry for Ecuadorians — Texas Standard
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- An immigration judge has denied the asylum claims of the family of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose January arrest with his father during Operation Metro Surge drew national attention.
- Columbia Heights Public School District publicly announced the ruling as 'heartbreaking' and said the family’s attorneys will appeal.
- The article reiterates that Judge Fred Biery previously ordered the government to release Liam and his father and sharply criticized the Trump administration’s pursuit of daily deportation quotas that 'traumatize children.'