Immigration judge rejects asylum claim for 5-year-old Liam Ramos, orders deportation to Ecuador

An immigration judge has rejected the asylum claim of Liam Ramos, the 5-year-old detained by ICE in Minnesota. Read about the family's appeal and the role of Rep. Joaquin Castro.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 11:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the San Antonio Current.

From National Spotlight to Deportation Orders

The legal battle for 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos has taken a grim turn following a ruling by U.S. Immigration Judge John Burns. According to reports from Minnesota Public Radio, the judge has officially rejected the asylum claims of the young boy and his family. Liam first gained national attention in January 2026 after a photograph of him in a bunny hat being detained by ICE agents went viral, fueling a heated debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics. Despite the public visibility and political intervention that followed, the court has moved to terminate the family's legal path to remain in the United States.

The Minneapolis Arrest and Dilley Detention

The family’s ordeal began on January 20, 2026, when Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were arrested in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis. Following their detainment, they were transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, a facility roughly an hour southwest of San Antonio. Their time at the "prison camp" was short-lived thanks to a concentrated effort led by San Antonio Representative Joaquin Castro and Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar. Their release on February 1 was celebrated by advocates as a victory against aggressive enforcement, but the federal government filed a motion to end their asylum claims just days later.

A Family Facing Uncertain Futures

The deportation order affects the entire Conejo Ramos household, which includes Liam, his 13-year-old brother, his father, and his mother, Erika Ramos. Adding to the complexity of the situation, Erika is currently pregnant with the couple's third child. Their attorney, Danielle Molliver of Nwokocha & Operana Law Offices, confirmed that while the judge’s decision is a significant setback, the firm has already filed an appeal. This next stage of the legal process could span months or even years, providing a temporary window of safety for the family while their case is reviewed by higher courts.