A federal immigration judge has denied the asylum application for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5‑year‑old boy from Minnesota whose January arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers drew national attention.
The decision was confirmed in a statement by the Columbia Heights Public School District, where Liam is a student, and has been described by the district as “heartbreaking.”
Officials and the family’s attorney say the ruling will be appealed and that the family is hopeful for a positive outcome.
Asylum Denial and Appeal Process
According to Paschal Nwokocha, an immigration attorney representing the Ramos family, the judge’s decision was issued several weeks ago by an immigration court in New York, terminating the family’s asylum claim and ordering them removed from the country.
Nwokocha explained that the family has already filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). While that appeal is pending, the family is legally allowed to remain in the United States until a final decision is made on the appeal.
“We intend to vigorously defend the rights for the family to actually get to the merits of their case,” Nwokocha said, adding that the family has not yet had an opportunity to fully present their story to an immigration judge.
It is unknown how long the BIA review will take, a common challenge in immigration appeals.
Background: Arrest of Liam and His Father
Liam and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos, became a focus of national media after they were detained by ICE in January during Operation Metro Surge. School district officials said Liam was taken from their home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, shortly after he arrived back from preschool.
The school alleged that officers used Liam as bait — having him knock on the door — in an attempt to see if others were inside before entering.
The family was then transported to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. However, their deportation was temporarily blocked after a federal judge intervened.
Court Order and Return to Minnesota
In February, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered that Liam and his father be released and allowed to return home to Minneapolis.
In his ruling, Judge Biery sharply criticized the immigration enforcement action, saying it stemmed from “the ill‑conceived and incompetently‑implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas,” which he said resulted in traumatizing children.
With help from U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, the father and son were able to make their way back to Minnesota following the court order.
Family’s Asylum Claim and Entry to the U.S.
Representatives for the Ramos family have said that the family is originally from Ecuador and entered the United States in 2024.
They reportedly came through a system that, at the time, allowed asylum seekers to use a mobile app to schedule processing at an official border entry point. The system, known as CBP One, has since been discontinued.
