{"id":40253,"date":"2026-01-26T23:03:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T23:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ternalnews.info\/?p=40253"},"modified":"2026-01-26T23:03:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T23:03:14","slug":"school-leaders-say-u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-detained-a-young-child-5-year-old-after-he-returned-from-preschool-with-his-parent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ternalnews.info\/?p=40253","title":{"rendered":"School leaders say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained a young child 5-year-old after he returned from preschool with his parent."},"content":{"rendered":"

In a development that has captured national attention and inflamed deep community tensions, federal immigration authorities this month detained\u00a0four students<\/em>\u00a0from the Columbia Heights.<\/p>\n

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Public school district in Minnesota, including a\u00a0five\u2011year\u2011old preschooler<\/em>, as part of a broader enforcement operation in the Minneapolis\u2013St. Paul region.<\/p>\n

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The incident involving the 5\u2011year\u2011old \u2014 identified by school officials as\u00a0Liam Conejo Ramos<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 has become a lightning rod for critics of federal immigration enforcement and sparked urgent calls from local leaders, lawmakers, educators, and immigrant advocates for clearer safeguards around how and when children are taken into custody.<\/p>\n

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Federal officials, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), state the actions were part of an ongoing targeted operation and deny allegations that officers used a young child as \u201cbait.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Arrest of a Preschooler and His Father<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On\u00a0Tuesday afternoon, January 20, 2026<\/strong>, immigration agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out an enforcement action at the home of Liam\u2019s family in\u00a0Columbia Heights<\/strong>, a suburb of Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

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According to school district officials and a press briefing by\u00a0Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik<\/em>, federal agents stopped the father,\u00a0Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias<\/strong>, and his five\u2011year\u2011old son in the driveway shortly after the child returned from preschool.<\/p>\n

Stenvik \u2014 speaking alongside other district leaders \u2014 described a tense scene: agents removed the child from the family\u2019s still\u2011running car and then, she said,\u00a0directed the young boy to walk to the front door and knock<\/strong>, as a way to check whether anyone else was home.<\/p>\n

Stenvik characterized this instruction as\u00a0\u201cessentially using a five\u2011year\u2011old as bait.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0She said that nearby adults \u2014 including another adult family member and the school board chair, who happened to be nearby \u2014\u00a0offered to take custody of the child<\/em>\u00a0but were refused by ICE officers.<\/p>\n

In the aftermath of the arrest, Liam\u2019s older brother arrived at the home only to find both his father and little brother gone.<\/p>\n

Liam\u2019s mother, who was inside the home at the time, was left unaware of their whereabouts for more than 24 hours, according to first\u2011hand accounts reported by school officials and local media.<\/p>\n

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Liam and his father were flown to a\u00a0family detention facility in Dilley, Texas<\/strong>, where many adults and children held by ICE are currently being housed.<\/p>\n

According to multiple reports, the center in Dilley has faced criticism over conditions, including inadequate healthcare, illness among children, and length of detention.<\/p>\n

Federal Response: DHS and ICE Defend the Operation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In response to widespread outrage following the news,\u00a0the Department of Homeland Security<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 which oversees ICE \u2014 issued a statement on\u00a0January 21<\/strong>\u00a0defending the action and refuting characterizations that agents\u00a0targeted a child<\/em>.<\/p>\n

A DHS spokesperson,\u00a0Tricia McLaughlin<\/em>, said that agents were focused on arresting the father, whom the department described as an \u201cillegal alien.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that when officers approached, the father ran, \u201cabandoning his child,\u201d and that one ICE officer remained with the boy purportedly \u201cfor his safety\u201d while other agents completed the father\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n

DHS further stated that parents or guardians are typically given options in such cases, including the ability to\u00a0choose removal with their children<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0arrange for a responsible adult to care for children<\/em>, but that in\u00a0this specific case<\/em>, the father\u00a0requested that his son remain with him<\/em>\u00a0in custody.<\/p>\n

McLaughlin\u2019s statement emphasized that ICE policies did not call for targeting the child.<\/p>\n

However, local officials who were present at the scene directly contested parts of the federal account, noting that they personally witnessed agents refuse offers from neighbors and school personnel to take responsibility for the young boy.<\/p>\n

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Other Students Taken in Recent Weeks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

School district leaders say that Liam\u2019s case was not an isolated incident. Over the two weeks prior to January 20, officials reported that at least\u00a0three other Columbia Heights students<\/strong>\u00a0were taken into custody by ICE:<\/p>\n

January 6<\/strong>: A\u00a010\u2011year\u2011old fourth\u2011grader<\/em>\u00a0was detained alongside her mother while walking to school.<\/p>\n

January 14<\/strong>: A\u00a017\u2011year\u2011old high school student<\/em>\u00a0was detained with her mother in their apartment.<\/p>\n

January 20 (morning)<\/strong>: Another\u00a017\u2011year\u2011old high school student<\/em>\u00a0was reportedly removed from a vehicle by ICE agents while on the way to school, without parents present.<\/p>\n

Superintendent Stenvik said the frequency of these encounters has led to deep fear and uncertainty among families with school\u2011aged children, pointing to reports of ICE vehicles following school buses, agents circling neighborhoods, and families keeping children home out of concern for their safety.<\/p>\n

Attendance at Columbia Heights schools has dropped significantly in recent weeks amid the heightened anxiety.<\/p>\n

Legal Status and Community Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to Liam\u2019s attorney,\u00a0Marc Prokosch<\/em>, the family entered the United States legally and has an\u00a0active asylum case<\/strong>\u00a0pending \u2014 meaning they have complied with immigration procedures and do not have a final order of removal at this time.<\/p>\n

Prokosch has publicly stated that they \u201cdid not come here illegally\u201d and that the family is \u201cnot criminals,\u201d underscoring that their process was lawful.<\/p>\n

Educators and community leaders are now grappling with the broader psychological and social impact of these detentions. Stenvik and others have described students absorbing fear and trauma \u2014 not just those directly involved \u2014 as news of classmates being taken into custody spreads through the district.<\/p>\n

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Teachers have reported emotional distress among students, and school officials have sought to provide counseling and reassurance amid a climate of uncertainty.<\/p>\n

One of Liam\u2019s teachers described him as a \u201cbright young student\u2026so kind and loving,\u201d emphasizing that he is well liked by classmates and that his absence has been deeply felt.<\/p>\n

Similar sentiments have been shared by parents and community members who fear the long\u2011term effects on children\u2019s sense of security and belonging.<\/p>\n

Political and Public Reaction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The detentions have drawn condemnation from community leaders, lawmakers, and civil rights advocates.<\/p>\n

Minnesota legislators representing the district, including\u00a0Representative Erin Koegel (DFL)<\/strong>\u00a0and others, issued statements calling the actions \u201cout of line with the values, civil rights, and freedoms enshrined in the United States Constitution.\u201d They urged greater protections for immigrant families and transparency from federal authorities.<\/p>\n

Local advocacy groups and immigrant rights organizations have framed the detentions as part of a broader, aggressive surge of enforcement in the Minneapolis\u2013St. Paul area.<\/p>\n

Reports suggest that hundreds if not thousands of arrests have taken place statewide amid stepped\u2011up operations by DHS and partner agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\u00a0[Note: specific official numbers vary by source and are subject to confirmation.]<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Opposition voices argue that actions targeting children \u2014 even in the context of family detentions \u2014 erode trust between immigrant communities and public institutions, with some calling for immediate policy revisions.<\/p>\n

Supporters of stricter enforcement, conversely, maintain that immigration laws must be upheld comprehensively and that federal agents are obliged to pursue removal actions deemed lawful.<\/p>\n

Broader Context: National Debate on Immigration Enforcement<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The case in Columbia Heights comes at a moment of intense national debate over immigration policy and enforcement practices in the United States.<\/p>\n

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Federal\u00a0 immigration agencies are operating under directives that have expanded enforcement activities, particularly in interior regions far from the southern border.<\/p>\n

These policies have increased encounters between immigration authorities and everyday community settings, including neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools across various states.<\/p>\n

Critics of current enforcement strategies argue that the expansion of raids and detentions in residential areas \u2014 especially when involving families with children \u2014 carries significant humanitarian costs.<\/p>\n

Advocates have stressed the need for rigorous oversight, clearer standards for interaction with minors, and policy reforms that balance adherence to immigration law with the protection of children\u2019s welfare.<\/p>\n

What Happens Next<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As of late January 2026, advocates and legal representatives are working to locate and support families affected by the detentions.<\/p>\n

Efforts include legal representation for asylum seekers, outreach to consular officials from countries of origin, and coordinated responses from local government and nonprofit support networks.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, calls for federal accountability continue. Community members, school officials, and policymakers have pledged to continue pushing for clarity on ICE\u2019s procedures and assurances that future enforcement actions will not traumatize vulnerable populations, especially children.<\/p>\n

The controversy surrounding these events has ignited a broader conversation about the balance between immigration law enforcement and family and community stability \u2014 a debate that shows no signs of abating as multiple stakeholders weigh in on both policy and human impact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a development that has captured national attention and inflamed deep community tensions, federal immigration authorities this month detained\u00a0four students\u00a0from the Columbia Heights. 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