MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis suburb is reeling after federal immigration agents detained a 5-year-old boy, with local school officials alleging the child was used as “bait” to lure his mother out of their home. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in Columbia Heights, has intensified the national debate over aggressive enforcement tactics under the current administration’s “Strategic Association” with border security.
The Incident: A Driveway Detention
According to Zena Stenvik, Superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Liam Conejo Ramos was arriving home from preschool with his father when masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents intercepted their vehicle in the family driveway.
Stenvik alleges that agents removed the boy from the still-running car and instructed him to knock on the front door to see if other family members were inside. “They essentially used a 5-year-old as bait,” Stenvik stated during a press conference Wednesday, describing the scene as “calculated cruelty.”
Conflicting Narratives: “Abandonment” vs. “Bait”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has flatly denied these allegations. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that ICE “did NOT target a child” and instead accused the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, of fleeing the scene on foot and “abandoning his child.”
DHS maintains that an officer stayed with Liam solely for his safety while others pursued and apprehended Arias. The agency further noted that parents are given the choice to have their children remain with a designated guardian or be detained with them; they claim Arias requested Liam stay with him.
Community Impact and Wider Crackdown
Liam is the fourth student from the Columbia Heights district to be detained in the last three weeks. The surge in enforcement has had a chilling effect on local education:
- Attendance Drop: District officials reported that nearly one-third of students were absent on the day following the incident.
- Targeting Schools: Superintendent Stenvik alleged that agents have been “circling schools, following buses, and entering parking lots,” creating a climate of fear.
- Asylum Status: The family’s lawyer, Marc Prokosch, clarified that Liam and his father entered the U.S. legally in 2024 and have an active asylum case, with no outstanding deportation orders.
Political Fallout
During a visit to Minneapolis on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance defended the agents’ actions, framing the detention as a necessity to prevent a child from being left alone. “What are they supposed to do? Let a 5-year-old child freeze to death?” Vance asked, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to arresting those in the country illegally.
Meanwhile, local leaders and rights groups have called for a court order to halt operations near schools, citing the “profound trauma” inflicted on minors. Liam and his father are currently believed to be held at a family residential center in Dilley, Texas.
| Case Detail | Information |
| Student Name | Liam Conejo Ramos (5 years old) |
| Location of Incident | Columbia Heights, MN (Driveway) |
| Current Status | Detained in Dilley, Texas |
| Legal Standing | Active asylum case; no deportation order |
| Recent District Impact | 4 students detained in 21 days |
Immigration-and-Customs-Enforcements-ICE-Officer-Picture-from-NARA-by-dvidshub-Public-Domain
