Concerns are growing over the health and emotional well-being of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old Minnesota child who has been detained with his father by U.S. immigration authorities since earlier this month.
According to Zena Stenvik, superintendent of the Columbia Heights Public Schools District, Liam has been unwell since his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.
Stenvik said she spoke with Liam’s mother, Erika Ramos, on Tuesday, January 27, and described the conversation as deeply distressing.
“Unfortunately, Liam’s health is not doing well right now,” Stenvik said. “He’s been sick and has a fever. I am very concerned about his well-being in that facility.”
Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, are currently being held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, a detention site used to house families during immigration proceedings.
Erika Ramos previously told Minnesota Public Radio that both her husband and her son remain in detention and that Liam’s condition has worsened.
She said the child has been suffering from stomach pain, vomiting, fever, and a loss of appetite.
According to Erika, Liam has become ill since entering the facility and no longer wants to eat.
The situation has drawn the attention of elected officials. On Wednesday, January 28, Texas Representative Joaquin Castro visited Liam and his father at the detention center.
Castro said he spent approximately 30 minutes with the family but noted that Liam was asleep during most of the visit.
Castro stated that while the child was not facing an immediate medical emergency, his emotional health was a major concern.
“His father told me that Liam hasn’t been himself,” Castro said. “He’s been sleeping a lot, and he’s been very sad and depressed.”
The congressman emphasized that concern for Liam extends beyond his family.
He said the child’s school, classmates, teachers, legal advocates, and people across the country are worried about his condition.
Castro also shared that Liam has repeatedly asked about the knitted blue hat and Spider-Man backpack he was wearing in widely circulated images taken during his detention in Minnesota.
According to Castro, Liam believes those personal items were taken from him and continues to ask where they are.
Following the visit, Castro publicly called for Liam’s release, saying the child’s family, school community, and many Americans are praying for him.
As of the latest update, the Department of Homeland Security has not issued a public response addressing Liam’s reported illness or the concerns raised by his family, school officials, and members of Congress.
Liam Conejo Ramos’ case has become a focal point in the national debate over immigration enforcement and the detention of children, with advocates continuing to urge authorities to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of minors in federal custody.
