Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father at a federal detention center in Texas. The visit took place after the boy was detained by federal agents in Minneapolis, sparking outrage over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The lawmakers met with Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, for about 30 minutes at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. Outside the facility, Texas state police confronted demonstrators supporting the detainees.
A photo of Liam, wearing a blue winter hat and a Spider-Man backpack while being detained, went viral, eliciting strong reactions. Castro described Liam as a symbol of the flaws in the ICE and detention systems. Liam’s father reported that the boy has been sleeping a lot, missing his mother and classmates, and expressing a desire to return to school.
Castro and other Democrats called for the release of Liam and other detainees during a news conference. The meeting was part of efforts to highlight the impacts of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Liam and his father were taken into custody by ICE agents in Minneapolis, leading to protests and concerns about the tactics used.
A federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the administration from deporting Ramos and Arias as legal challenges are ongoing. The family’s attorney mentioned that Arias had a pending asylum claim allowing him to stay in the U.S. After visiting, Castro shared a photo on social media showing Liam in his father’s arms with his eyes closed.
Crockett, a Texas Democrat running for Senate, emphasized the need to provide education to children in detention. Outside the center, protesters clashed with police, leading to arrests and the use of pepper balls. Castro criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing the department of operating as a “bounty hunter organization.”
Crockett and other Democrats have called for Noem’s impeachment and opposed funding for DHS and immigration enforcement agencies. The House approved the DHS funding bill with some Democratic support, despite recent incidents involving ICE officers. Senate Democrats have expressed reluctance to approve DHS funding in light of recent events.
