The distressing case of a five-year-old boy detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has escalated, with reports emerging that the child is now unwell and pleading for his mother while held in a Texas detention centre. Liam Conejo Ramos, whose viral image wearing a blue bunny-ear hat and a Spider-Man backpack during his father's detainment in Minneapolis sparked widespread condemnation, is said to be suffering from health issues, according to his family and visiting lawmakers.
Lawmakers Voice Alarm Over Child's Condition
Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett, both Democratic congress members from Texas, visited Liam and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley on Wednesday. They expressed grave concerns about the boy's physical and mental state, describing him as lethargic and depressed.
Castro detailed at a press conference that Liam has been sleeping excessively, asking repeatedly for his mother, his family, and his classmates, and expressing a desire to return to school. "He seemed lethargic. His father said that Liam has been sleeping a lot, that he's been asking about his family, his mom and his classmates, and saying that he wants to go be back in school with his classmates," Castro reported.
Health Deterioration and Inadequate Conditions
Liam's mother, Erika Ramos, informed Minnesota Public Radio that her son's health is deteriorating inside the detention facility. She cited stomach pain, vomiting, fever, and a loss of appetite, attributing these symptoms to poor-quality food provided at the centre.
Crockett echoed these worries in an interview with CNN, noting that Liam appeared never alert during their visit and that his father indicated the child was not eating and had been diagnosed as depressed. She also revealed that the five-year-old possesses only one set of clothes, which his father washes nightly after he falls asleep.
Facility Concerns and Official Pushback
The lawmakers raised broader issues about the Dilley facility, with Crockett mentioning concerns that the drinking water might be making detainees sick, and Castro hearing from attorneys about clients being locked in rooms and lacking proper medical treatment.
In response, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied these allegations in a statement to CNN, asserting that the centre is not on lockdown and that ICE never denies medical care. She defended the agency's actions, stating that such claims have led to a significant increase in assaults against officers.
Ongoing Legal and Political Battles
Federal officials have justified the detainment, with McLaughlin clarifying that ICE did not target the child and followed the father's wishes to keep them together. However, the family's attorney, Marc Prokosch, contends that Liam and his father entered the country legally and are pursuing a lawful immigration pathway.
Castro announced plans to revisit the facility to check on Liam and other detainees, underscoring the ongoing political pressure. The case continues to fuel national outrage over immigration policies, highlighting the human cost of enforcement actions and sparking debates about the treatment of families in detention.
