DHS Files Motion to Fast-Track Deportation of 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos and Father
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has filed a legal motion to expedite the deportation proceedings of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, seeking to formally terminate their pending asylum claims. The move comes less than a week after a federal judge ordered the pair’s release from an immigration detention center in Texas, allowing them to return to their home in Minnesota.
According to court documents filed on Wednesday, DHS is requesting that the immigration court accelerate the removal process for the family. The motion specifically seeks to end their asylum case, a development that legal observers describe as a significant escalation. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for Friday.
Danielle Molliver, the immigration attorney representing the family, confirmed the filing and characterized the government’s request as “retaliatory” in nature. Speaking to reporters, Molliver noted that such motions to expedite are uncommon in asylum proceedings, particularly when the subjects have just been released by a federal court order. She indicated that the legal team is requesting additional time to respond to the motion, arguing that the expedited timeline hinders their ability to prepare an adequate defense.
“It is really frustrating as an attorney because they keep throwing new obstacles in our way,” Molliver stated. “There is absolutely no reason that this should be expedited.”
The case of Liam Conejo Ramos garnered national attention after the child was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 20 while being picked up from school in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Images of the 5-year-old, wearing a Spider-Man backpack, being led away by federal agents circulated widely, sparking public outcry and inquiries from lawmakers. following their detention, the father and son were transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery granted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, ordering their release. The judge ruled that their continued detention was unnecessary, permitting them to return to Minnesota pending the outcome of their immigration case. They arrived back in Minneapolis earlier this week, accompanied by U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Ilhan Omar, who have been vocal critics of the detention.
In an interview following his release, Adrian Conejo Arias expressed deep uncertainty regarding the government’s latest legal maneuvers. “The government is moving many pieces; it is doing everything possible to do us harm, so that they will probably deport us,” he said through a translator. “We live with that fear.”
The family, originally from Ecuador, entered the United States in late 2024. Their legal team asserts that they have valid asylum claims which are currently being processed. DHS officials, however, have maintained that the initial arrest was part of “Operation Metro Surge” and disputed accounts that the child was targeted, stating the enforcement action was directed at the father due to his immigration status.
If the motion to terminate asylum claims is granted, the family could face immediate removal from the United States, although their attorney has suggested they may attempt to seek asylum in a third country if deportation to Ecuador becomes imminent. The court’s decision on the motion to expedite is expected following Friday’s hearing.
* kare11.com
* myfoxzone.com
* indiatimes.com
* latintimes.com
* findlaw.com
* cbsnews.com
* mprnews.org
* wikipedia.org
