Sen. Tammy Duckworth accused ICE of "needlessly" detaining 5-year-old Liam Ramos after officials say the child’s mother refused custody and the boy was moved roughly 1,300 miles to a Texas detention center. DHS released a statement saying a pediatrician found no medical concerns and detailed ICE’s intake and health-care procedures. DHS says the father asked to keep the child and both are at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center; a federal judge has temporarily blocked deportation of the father and child while the case proceeds.
DHS Rebuts Sen. Duckworth: ICE Says 5-Year-Old Was Examined, Family Dispute Led to Detention
DHS fires back after Dem accuses ICE of 'needlessly' detaining boy with father after mom refused to take him
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of "needlessly" detaining a 5-year-old boy, identified as Liam Ramos, after federal agents say the child’s mother refused to take custody and the child was moved to a Texas detention center with his father.
DHS Response and Medical Assessment
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted a statement from Dr. Sean Conley, acting director of DHS’ Office of Health Security and chief medical officer, saying a pediatrician examined Ramos and "found no medical concerns." Conley outlined ICE’s routine health procedures, including medical, dental and mental-health intake screening within 12 hours of arrival, a comprehensive health assessment within 14 days, access to necessary medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.
Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, the father of Liam Ramos, is being detained with his son in Texas after being arrested by federal immigration authorities. A federal judge has issued a temporary block on the deportation of the father and son.(Fox News)
"Ensuring the safety, security and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE," Conley wrote. He also said detainees receive three dietitian-approved meals daily, with pediatric needs considered.
Sen. Duckworth’s Criticism
Duckworth shared photographs of the child on X and wrote that "Trump's ICE snatched this bright, happy 5-year-old from his driveway," alleging the boy was transported roughly 1,300 miles to a "squalid Texas detention center" and was growing ill. She called for Liam to be returned to his mother and described the practice as cruel.
Custody Dispute and Timeline
DHS said federal agents attempted to detain the child’s father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, on Jan. 20 in a Minneapolis suburb. According to DHS, Conejo fled and left his son, who was returning from preschool. Some officers remained with the child while others pursued and later apprehended Conejo.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.
ICE officials say they repeatedly asked the boy’s mother—who was inside the family home—to accept custody, but she declined. McLaughlin said officers told the mother she would not be taken into custody if she accepted the child. The father reportedly told officers he wanted his son to remain with him, and DHS says that, following what it called the mother’s refusal, the father and son were kept together and transported to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas.
Legal Status And Court Action
DHS said Conejo entered the U.S. illegally in December 2024 and was later released into the country by the Biden administration; the family’s attorney said Conejo has a pending asylum claim. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from deporting Arias and his child while the legal dispute proceeds.
What’s Next
The case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement and the treatment of children in custody. Officials say standard medical and custodial protocols were followed; critics question whether children should be transferred long distances and held in detention settings while legal proceedings continue.
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