Five-Year-Old Now Wakes From Nightmares After Nearly Two Weeks in Immigration Detention

A five-year-old boy who spent nearly two weeks in immigration custody now wakes up crying and terrified his family could be separated again, his father told Noticias Telemundo. The boy and his father returned to Minneapolis after a federal judge ordered they be released while their asylum cases proceed.

What Happened

On Jan. 20, Adrián Alexander Conejo Arias said he had just pulled into his driveway after picking up his son, Liam Conejo Ramos, from preschool when immigration agents approached the family home. Liam, who was born in Ecuador, watched as officers handcuffed his father while his mother, Erika Ramos, sobbed inside the house, the family says.

"He hasn't been the same since this all happened," Conejo told Telemundo. "He calls me when he wakes up and says, 'Daddy, Daddy,' so I have to go to him."

Disputed Accounts

Witnesses, including an employee from Liam's school district, later said they heard agents suggest the boy could knock on the front door to draw someone out — statements that prompted accusations the child was used as "bait." The Department of Homeland Security has denied this portrayal, saying instead that the father briefly left without his son to evade capture and that an ICE officer stayed with the child for his safety. "For the child's safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias," DHS said in a previous statement.

Detention and Release

Liam and his father were taken into custody and later held at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas. The family was returned to Minneapolis on Saturday after a federal judge ordered they be released pending the resolution of their asylum claims. Authorities have confirmed two measles infections at the Dilley facility since the family was held there.

Aftermath and Health Concerns

The family says they have been hiding in Minneapolis since their release, along with others fearful of further detentions. Liam's older brother missed school this week. Liam has had a fever and cough, and his mother reported abnormal bleeding, the family said. Their attorney maintains the family followed established procedures to pursue asylum and should not have been detained.

Inside Detention

During their time in custody, Conejo said he spent much of his time comforting Liam. Communication with the outside was limited and calls to his wife were restricted. To soothe his son, Conejo told stories from the children's show "Bluey" and recalled happier family outings. Liam was often frightened and asked what they had done wrong and what had happened to the small blue knit hat he wore the day he was detained; the father later said Liam was reunited with the hat and still wears it inside the house.

Father's Reflections

Conejo said he struggled to explain the events to his son and often had to hold back his own tears to avoid upsetting him further. When asked how he might one day explain the incident to Liam, Conejo said he would tell him that he became a symbol of hope and change — "a global figure" whose experience helped bring attention to families and children in detention.

Note: This article is based on reporting first published at NBCNews.com and interviews with the family and Telemundo.