Federal authorities have released a photograph of Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, the father of a 5-year-old boy, who was taken into custody during a recent immigration enforcement action in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security said the image was shared to clarify details about the incident involving the child, Liam Conejo Ramos.
Homeland Security officials say Arias, an Ecuadorian national who was in the United States without legal status, fled from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they approached him at a residence. According to the federal account, Arias left his son behind while attempting to escape, prompting agents to remain with the child for his safety. The boy and his father were later transported to a federal facility in Texas together.
DHS emphasized that ICE did not target the child during the operation, and that officers acted to protect the young boy once his father fled. The agency also said it has no record of the family entering the United States through the CBP One app, contrary to claims made by the family’s attorney about their asylum process.
The release of the image comes amid a broader national debate over immigration enforcement practices after a photo of the 5-year-old standing near an ICE vehicle circulated widely online and drew strong public reaction. Opinions remain sharply divided over what happened and how federal immigration authorities handled the situation.