Federal Judge Orders Release of 5-Year-Old ICE Detainee
Federal Judge Grants Habeas Corpus Relief to Asylum Seeker and Minor Child
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The ruling, issued on Saturday, granted their petition for a writ of habeas corpus, emphasizing due process protections under the U.S. Constitution. This decision highlights tensions between immigration enforcement practices and constitutional safeguards for detainees.[1][3]
Background of the Detention and Petition
On January 20, 2026, ICE agents detained Adrian Conejo Arias and his son in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The father and son, asylum seekers from Ecuador who entered the U.S. in 2024, were subsequently transferred to the Dilley ICE detention center in Texas.[1][2]
The family’s attorney filed an emergency habeas corpus petition in the U.S. District Court, arguing that the detention violated fundamental legal principles. Judge Biery’s order required release “as soon as practicable,” with compliance achieved by Sunday when the pair returned to Minnesota.[1][4]
Legal Basis: Habeas Corpus and Constitutional References
Habeas corpus, protected by Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution and referenced in the Fourth Amendment, allows courts to review the legality of detention. In his ruling, Judge Biery invoked historical precedents, including writings of Thomas Jefferson, to underscore the writ’s role in preventing arbitrary government actions.[3]
The decision critiques immigration enforcement tactics amid reports of rapid transfers out of state, potentially to limit jurisdiction of local federal courts. Attorneys have alleged such practices aim to evade Minnesota district court oversight.[1]
Government Response and Potential Appeal
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, disputed claims of targeting the child, asserting adherence to protocols for family separations and designations of custodians. DHS described the father as an individual subject to removal proceedings.[1]
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated the government may appeal, noting the administrative nature of immigration law differs from criminal processes. This reflects ongoing debates over detention authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act.[1]
Broader Legal Context in Minnesota
ICE operations in Minnesota have prompted multiple legal challenges, including a temporary restraining order from a U.S. federal court barring arrests of certain non-citizen residents. Critics, including attorneys representing other families, argue transfers to Texas facilities circumvent local judicial review.[1][3]
These developments underscore key principles in immigration law, such as jurisdictional limits on detention and protections for minors under federal regulations. The case illustrates the interplay between executive enforcement and judicial oversight in asylum proceedings.[1]
Significance for Immigration Detention Law
This ruling reinforces habeas corpus as a vital check on immigration detentions, particularly involving minors. It prompts examination of enforcement strategies under current administration policies, amid evolving interpretations of asylum eligibility and removal procedures.
Source: Federal judge orders release of five-year-old detained by ICE
