Liam Conejo Ramos and Father Released from ICE Detention Following Legal Challenge

Dilley, Texas – Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old boy who garnered national attention after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have been released from the Dilley Family Residential Center in Texas. Their release followed a ruling stating their confinement violated constitutional protections.

Detention and Legal Battle

Liam and his father were detained after ICE officers apprehended them in Minnesota last week. The family, who emigrated to the US in 2024 from Ecuador and have an active asylum claim, were transferred to the Dilley facility. A federal judge ordered their release on Saturday, February 1, 2026, citing constitutional concerns regarding their detention.

Return to Minnesota

Following their release, Liam and his father boarded a flight from San Antonio International Airport to Minneapolis on Sunday, February 2, 2026. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) escorted them back to Minnesota, sharing an Instagram post celebrating Liam’s return home. ABC News reported that Delta Air Lines pilots allowed Liam to visit the flight deck during the journey.

Concerns at Dilley Facility

The release of Liam and his father comes amid growing concerns about conditions at the Dilley Family Residential Center. Recent court filings reveal that nearly 600 immigrant children were held at the facility in recent months with inadequate access to food, medical care, and mental health services. Some children have been detained beyond court-mandated limits, with approximately 595 children held for more than 20 days in December and January, and some for over 100 days.

Reports of Poor Conditions and Mental Health Crisis

Advocates have reported instances of poor conditions, including worms in food and insufficient legal counsel. One case highlighted in court filings involved a 13-year-old girl who attempted suicide after being denied prescribed antidepressants and the ability to be with her mother. Despite this, government reports claimed no children were on suicide watch, a claim contradicted by the girl’s discharge documents detailing a suicide attempt.

Legal Challenges to Flores Settlement

The case is part of a larger legal battle surrounding the Flores settlement, a 1997 agreement that established standards for the detention of immigrant children and set a 20-day limit on custody. The Trump administration has sought to conclude the Flores settlement, arguing it hinders deportation efforts and wastes taxpayer resources.

Ongoing Concerns

Despite a decrease in the number of children detained at Dilley, advocates like Leecia Welch of Children’s Rights maintain that the facility remains a problematic environment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that the facility provides basic necessities and focuses on swift deportations.

A hearing on the case is scheduled later this month before Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee of the Central District of California.

Sources: KSAT, AP News, Wikipedia, PBS NewsHour