At a Glance
- Columbia Heights Public Schools reports that four of its students were taken by ICE agents in recent weeks.
- The youngest victim was a 5-year-old boy named Liam Conejo Ramos.
- The district says the arrests were targeted at parents, not children.
- Why it matters: The incidents raise questions about immigration enforcement near schools and the safety of children.
The story began in Columbia Heights, a suburb north of Minneapolis, where the district’s superintendent announced that four students had been taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in recent weeks. The most shocking case involved a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, who was seized in his driveway after returning from preschool.
The Incident
On Tuesday afternoon, Liam and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were taken into custody by ICE agents while the boy was still at home. The superintendent said an adult who lived in the house begged the agents to allow him to care for the child, but the agents refused. A bystander photographed the event and gave the photo to the school district, which released it to the media.
ICE’s spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, issued a statement that the agency did not target a child. She said the agents were focused on the father, who “fled on foot-abandoning his child.” McLaughlin added that one ICE officer remained with the child for his safety.
Official Statements
“Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates,” McLaughlin said. “This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement.”
The superintendent, Zena Stenvik, asked, “Why detain a 5-year-old?” She noted that the family has an active asylum case and no order of deportation. Stenvik also said the family is following U.S. legal parameters.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Minneapolis, expressed his shock. “I see the story, and I’m a father of a 5-year-old… How did we arrest a 5-year-old?” he said, questioning the rationale behind the arrest.
Family and School Impact
Liam’s teacher, Ella Sullivan, described the removal as a shock. “He comes into class every day, and he just brightens the room,” Sullivan said. “His friends haven’t asked about him yet, but I know that they’ll catch on, and it’s just a very unfortunate situation.”
The superintendent said that 20 minutes after Liam and his father were taken, the boy’s middle-school brother came home to a missing dad, a missing little brother, and a terrified mother. Attendance at the district’s schools has fallen, and recess has been moved indoors due to ICE patrols near playgrounds.
Broader Detention Cases
Stenvik also reported that a 17-year-old student was removed from a car and “taken by armed, masked agents alone” with no parents present. Two weeks earlier, a 10-year-old student was taken while she was on her way to school with her mom. By the end of that day, both the student and her mother were in a Texas detention center.
Last week, agents “pushed their way into an apartment” and detained a 17-year-old student and her mother. The superintendent said she has asked for comment from DHS about the additional three students but has not received a reply.
Community Response
Stenvik described the situation as “the sense of safety in our community and around our schools is shaken, and our hearts are shattered.” She said ICE agents have been roaming neighborhoods, circling schools, following buses, and entering parking lots.
A school administrator told the district that an ICE vehicle drove onto school property and approached the high-school loading dock. The administration told those in the vehicle to leave.
Key Takeaways
- ICE’s recent detentions in Columbia Heights have involved parents and children, with the youngest victim a 5-year-old.
- The agency says it is targeting parents, not children, and that it places children with designated safe persons.
- The incidents have caused fear among students, teachers, and parents, leading to reduced attendance and changes to recess.
- The district and families are seeking clarity and legal assistance, with an immigration attorney exploring habeas corpus petitions.
- The broader pattern of detentions in the district highlights the tension between immigration enforcement and school safety.
The situation remains under scrutiny as the district continues to report new detentions and seeks answers from federal authorities.
