U.S. Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett paid a visit to a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father at a federal detention center in Texas on Wednesday. This visit comes after the boy was detained by federal agents in Minneapolis. The incident has fueled criticism towards the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly regarding the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During the meeting, Castro and Crockett spent around 30 minutes with Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, inside the South Texas Family Residential Center near San Antonio. Outside the facility, Texas state police engaged with demonstrators supporting the detainees.
A widely circulated photo of the boy, wearing a blue winter hat and a Spider-Man backpack while in custody, has evoked strong reactions. Castro described the child as a symbol of the harsh realities of the ICE and detention systems.
According to Castro, Liam’s father shared that the boy has been sleeping a lot, inquiring about his mother and classmates, and expressing his desire to return to school. Castro, along with other Democrats, called for the release of Liam and other detainees during a subsequent news conference.
The visit was part of an effort by Democrats to highlight the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies in Minnesota and beyond. Liam and his father were detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 20, sparking protests in the city. The detention operation has also resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal officers.
Contrary to claims by neighbors and school officials that Liam was used as “bait” by immigration officers, the Department of Homeland Security refuted these allegations. The father was said to be in the U.S. illegally, with a federal judge issuing a temporary order preventing their removal from the country as legal challenges unfold.
After the visit, Castro shared a photo on social media showing Liam in his father’s arms with his eyes closed. Crockett emphasized that Liam was just one of many children they met at the facility who expressed concerns about their education.
Outside the detention center, tensions rose as Texas state police used chemical irritants on protesters supporting the detainees. Castro criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, likening the department’s immigration enforcement to a “bounty hunter organization.”
Crockett, who is vying for the Senate nomination, joined other Democrats in calling for Noem’s impeachment. The DHS funding bill, which faced opposition from some Democrats, was passed by the Republican-controlled House shortly before the tragic death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE agents.
Senate Democrats have indicated their reluctance to approve DHS funding in light of Pretti’s death, potentially leading to a government shutdown.