U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett, both Democrats, paid a visit to a five-year-old boy from Ecuador and his father at a federal detention center in Texas on Wednesday. This visit came shortly after the boy was apprehended by federal agents in Minneapolis. The incident has fueled criticism toward the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During the meeting at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, near San Antonio, Castro and Crockett spent around 30 minutes with Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, inside a courtroom. Outside the facility, Texas state police engaged with demonstrators supporting the detainees.
A widely circulated photo shows the boy in a blue winter hat and Spider-Man backpack while being detained, evoking strong reactions. Castro described the child as a symbol of the harshness of the ICE and detention systems.
According to Castro, Liam’s father mentioned that the boy has been sleeping a lot, inquiring about his mother and classmates, and expressing his desire to return to school. Castro, in a subsequent news conference, urged President Trump to consider how it would feel if his own grandchildren were in a similar situation, advocating for the release of Liam and other detained individuals.
The visit was part of Democrats’ efforts in an election year to oversee and bring attention to the impacts of Trump’s immigration policies in Minnesota and beyond. The detention of Liam and his father in Minneapolis on Jan. 20 sparked significant unrest in the city, leading to protests. The father’s immigration status has been questioned, with federal officials indicating he was in the U.S. unlawfully.
A federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the administration from deporting Ramos and Arias as legal proceedings unfold. The family’s lawyer stated that Arias had a pending asylum claim, allowing him to remain in the country.
After the visit, Castro shared a photo on social media showing Liam in his father’s arms. Crockett, also present during the visit, highlighted that Liam was just one of many children they met at the facility who expressed concerns about their education.
Outside the detention center, tensions escalated as Texas state police engaged with protesters, leading to arrests and the use of chemical irritants. Castro criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing the department of running an enforcement operation akin to a “bounty hunter organization.”
Crockett and other Democrats have called for Noem’s impeachment and opposed the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, citing concerns over immigration enforcement practices. The funding bill passed the Republican-controlled House, despite growing opposition following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Senate Democrats have signaled their reluctance to support DHS funding, even if it leads to a government shutdown. The ongoing debate reflects the deepening divide over immigration policies and enforcement practices.